{"id":43897,"date":"2016-08-31T10:53:09","date_gmt":"2016-08-31T10:53:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viconsortium.com\/?p=43897"},"modified":"2016-08-31T13:31:22","modified_gmt":"2016-08-31T13:31:22","slug":"jaheil-francis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.viconsortium.com\/?p=43897","title":{"rendered":"Young Man Who Shot And Killed 66-Year-Old Claiming Self-Defense, Receives Probation For Firearm Violation"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. THOMAS — Jaheil Francis was on Monday sentenced to a two-year suspended sentence for having pleaded guilty to a gun crime in connection with a shooting death that occurred earlier this year<\/a><\/span>, the Virgin Islands Department of Justice announced Monday.<\/p>\n

Francis, 20, accepted the terms of an amended plea agreement offered by Attorney General Claude Earl Walker and pleaded guilty to a single charge of failure to register a licensed firearm. He faced two charges \u2013 unauthorized possession of a firearm with altered identification marks and unauthorized possession of a firearm stemming from a Feb. 18 incident.<\/p>\n

According to an affidavit filed by Det. Nigel James detailing the incident that led to Francis\u2019 arrest, police traveled to Wimelskaft Gade (Back Street) to respond to reports of a gunshot victim. When they got to the area, police found Randolph Rabsatt lying face up with gunshot wounds about his body; he was pronounced dead at the scene. A knife was recovered near the body.<\/p>\n

Police interviewed an eyewitness who said that Francis and Rabsatt were embroiled an argument, Rabsatt pulled out a knife and swung it at Francis, according to Det. James. Rabsatt pursued Francis with the knife, Francis pulled out a gun and shot Rabsatt, discharging about five to seven shots, then left the area, according to James.<\/p>\n

Francis, who had traveled to Schneider hospital for treatment of two knife wounds on his neck, was later apprehended at the medical institution and arrested on the two gun charges.<\/p>\n

In the plea deal offered by AG Walker, according to Assistant Attorney General Eugene James Connor, Jr., who outlined the terms during his allocution, in exchange for his pleading guilty to a single count of failure to register a licensed firearm, Francis will be sentenced under the conditions of Title 5 V.I.C. 3712 \u2013 probation for youthful offenders.<\/p>\n

Francis\u2019 attorney, Michael Joseph, told the court that his client acted in self-defense. \u201cIf he didn\u2019t have the gun, he would have been a dead man,\u201d Joseph said. Francis addressed the court at his hearing and repeatedly told the court he was sorry about what had happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would like people to have empathy more than sympathy,\u201d Francis said. \u201cI\u2019m really sorry it happened, but that was the only way of securing my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

In handing down his punishment, V.I. Superior Court Judge James Carroll III upheld the recommendations of the plea agreement, but said that this case shows the danger of firearm possession.<\/p>\n

Carroll then sentenced Francis to the guidelines of Title 5 V.I.C. 3712, pointing out that at the time of the attack, he was 19, he has no prior record, he is a suitable candidate for rehabilitation, he earned his GED and he has a scholarship from Woodward Academy.<\/p>\n

Under the guidelines of Title 5 V.I.C. 3712, Francis was sentenced to two years and one month with all suspended and placed on a probation for a period of two years. Judge Carroll also ordered Francis to continue his education, continue looking for employment, to pay a $500 fee for probation and $75 in court costs. Judge Carroll also imposed 200 hours of community service, part of which will be talk about the dangers of gun violence.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe can proceed to go to the community college,\u201d Judge Carroll said. \u201cHe\u2019ll have to work out leaving the territory with probation.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ST. THOMAS — Jaheil Francis was on Monday sentenced to a two-year suspended sentence for having pleaded guilty to a gun crime in connection with a shooting death that occurred earlier this year, the Virgin Islands Department of Justice announced Monday. Francis, 20, accepted the terms of an amended plea agreement offered by Attorney General […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":43898,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[191,147],"tags":[4582,4575],"yoast_head":"\nYoung Man Who Shot And Killed 66-Year-Old Claiming Self-Defense, Receives Probation For Firearm Violation - V.I. 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