ST. THOMAS —\u00a0Three violent criminals \u2013 C\u2019Quan Celestine, above, Shaheid Maynard and Winston Carter \u2013 will not see the light of day for several years, V.I. Department of Justice Public Media Officer Corliss Smithen announced Wednesday.<\/p>\n
V.I. Superior Court Judge Michael Dunston sentenced the three men today for various gun crimes in three unrelated incidents.<\/p>\n
Attorney General Claude Earl Walker issued a brief statement following the sentencing hearings.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, through successful prosecution, we have removed three dangerous criminals, including a repeat offender, off of the streets of the Virgin Islands,\u201d AG Walker said. \u201cThis is good news to all law-abiding residents in every part of the Territory who are united in their desire for a safe and peaceful Virgin Islands.\u00a0 Guns were used in each case, and so, our message is clear: when you use a gun as part of a crime in the Virgin Islands, you will be quickly prosecuted to the full extent of the law.\u00a0 We know that gun violence remains a serious public safety issue, but with our policy of precision prosecution of violent gun cases, we will continue to swiftly bring such cases to conclusion.\u00a0 We have additional experienced prosecutors coming in August to join our expanded Violent Crime Unit because we want to ensure that violent offenders are removed from Virgin Islands society by being convicted and put in prison.\u201d<\/p>\n
Celestine, 23, of Anna\u2019s Retreat was sentenced for second-degree attempted murder, unauthorized use of a firearm during the commission of a second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, unauthorized use of a firearm during the commission of a first-degree assault, third-degree assault, unauthorized use of a firearm during the commission of a third-degree assault and unauthorized possession of a firearm, two months after a jury unanimously convicted him of shooting a female victim in the face and leaving her for dead.\u00a0 The incident occurred on August 9, 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Celestine, you have turned my life upside down,\u201d the victim said as she addressed the court at Celestine\u2019s sentencing.\u00a0 \u201cYou shot me in my face about an inch under my right eye and it exited through my neck.\u00a0 I did nothing to provoke you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Judge Dunston, who sentenced Celestine as a habitual offender, handed down a 40-year prison term with credit for the 418 days he has already served since his arrest.\u00a0 Celestine was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $2,876 and $75 court cost.\u00a0 He was immediately taken back to the Bureau of Corrections.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this instance, I feel that his actions demonstrated callousness and disregard for [the victim], another human being. That is frightening,\u201d Judge Dunston said.<\/p>\n
Maynard, 21, of Estate Thomas was punished for the May 22, 2016, shooting death of Vershawn Monsanto in the area of the Oswald Harris Court housing community.\u00a0 Facing one count each of voluntary manslaughter, third-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, unauthorized possession of a firearm during the commission of a third-degree assault and unauthorized possession of a firearm during the commission of a voluntary manslaughter, Maynard pleaded guilty to the single charge of voluntary manslaughter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to say I apologize to the victim\u2019s family and to my family,\u201d Maynard said at his sentencing, when given the opportunity to address the court on his own behalf.\u00a0 \u201cOn that day, I had no intention of killing anyone; I was just trying to protect myself.\u00a0 I take full responsibility for carrying a gun and killing somebody.\u201d<\/p>\n
Judge Dunston handed him a seven-year prison sentence with credit for the 414 days he has already served since he was arrested.\u00a0 Maynard was remanded into custody and escorted back to the BOC to serve the remainder of his sentence.<\/p>\n
According to the probable cause fact sheet of Det. Nigel James, Maynard admitted to police that he shot Monsanto.\u00a0 Three witnesses had already identified him as the shooter.\u00a0 During a police interview, Maynard told officers that he went to the McDonald\u2019s restaurant to get something to eat and while there, he got into an argument with some individuals inside the restaurant and he left with his food.<\/p>\n
When he got in the area of the Oswald Harris Court housing community, Vershawn Monsanto approached him, pulled out a gun and began shooting at him.\u00a0 Maynard then shot at Monsanto and ran from the area.\u00a0 Monsanto was transported to Schneider Hospital, where he later died, according to James.<\/p>\n
Carter, 26, of Upper John Dunkoe, St. John, has been given until Friday to report to the BOC, his new home for the next seven years.<\/p>\n
Carter, who faced one count each of first-degree assault, third-degree assault, possession of an unlicensed firearm, unauthorized possession of a dangerous weapon during the commission of a first-degree assault, unauthorized possession of a dangerous weapon during the commission of a third-degree assault and reckless endangerment, entered an Alford plea and pleaded guilty to first-degree assault.\u00a0 The charges and subsequent plea of guilt stemmed from the April 19, 2016, shooting of Shashi Seetaram.<\/p>\n
According to a probable cause fact sheet filed by Det. Dwight Griffith, police responded to a report of shots fired in the area of the Apostolic Faith Church in Altona.\u00a0 On arrival at the scene, officers found Seetaram lying face-up in the church\u2019s parking lot.\u00a0 He was bleeding profusely from multiple gunshot wounds about his head and body.<\/p>\n
When asked who shot him, Seetaram told officers that he did not know the name of his shooter, but that the shooter\u2019s number was the last one that appeared in the listing on his cellular phone.\u00a0 Police searched the phone, obtained the number and found that it belonged to Carter, who was arrested two days later.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry. I apologize to my family; I apologize to everybody,\u201d Carter told the court at his sentencing.<\/p>\n
Judge Dunston sentenced Carter to seven years\u2019 imprisonment with credit for the 105 days he served at the BOC after his arrest and also ordered him to pay $75 court cost.<\/p>\n
Assistant Attorney General Eugene James Connor, Jr. argued the cases for the prosecution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ST. THOMAS —\u00a0Three violent criminals \u2013 C\u2019Quan Celestine, above, Shaheid Maynard and Winston Carter \u2013 will not see the light of day for several years, V.I. Department of Justice Public Media Officer Corliss Smithen announced Wednesday. V.I. Superior Court Judge Michael Dunston sentenced the three men today for various gun crimes in three unrelated incidents. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":52806,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4400,147],"tags":[7223,929,121],"yoast_head":"\n