VIPD Arrests St. Croix Man Wanted for Sexual Assault of Minor

Members of the Virgin Islands Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau on Friday apprehended a 29-year-old man wanted for sexually assaulting a minor female, according to the department.

Police said the case began on Jan. 27 when the 911 Emergency Call Center received a report of a sexual assault. Detectives were assigned to investigate, and information gathered indicated that Lerone Smith Jr. had sexually assaulted the victim. Following the investigation, a Superior Court judge signed an arrest warrant on June 5.

Detectives attempted to locate Smith but were unsuccessful. A wanted poster was later distributed through social media and news outlets to assist in his apprehension, according to the police report.

On Friday, officers arrested Smith without incident. He was booked and unable to post his $75,000 bail. He has been charged with second-degree rape and was remanded to the John Bell Adult Correctional Facility pending his Advice of Rights hearing, scheduled for Sept. 29 in Superior Court, the police report said.