Following the release of an audit exposing systemic failures in child abuse reporting within V.I. public schools, correspondence between Sen. Marise James and Attorney General Nominee Gordon Rhea earlier this month has also drawn increased scrutiny on the lack of accountability for school officials involved in the case of convicted Charlotte Amalie High School (CAHS) coach Bruce Smith.
Smith, convicted in 2021 of sexually abusing dozens of students over a 15-year period, is serving a 35-year prison sentence. However, James, in her letter to Rhea and U.S. Attorney Delia Smith, expressed outrage that no legal action has been taken against school administrators who knew of the abuse but failed to report it. Citing Virgin Islands laws allowing for the prosecution of individuals who negligently allow child abuse to occur, James called for immediate action to hold accountable those who enabled Smith’s behavior by remaining silent.
“Parents, victims, and the public deserve answers and justice. The fact that school officials remain employed despite knowledge of these heinous acts erodes public trust,” James wrote. She added that VIDE’s inaction prior to federal intervention allowed Smith to continue his abuse unchecked.
If the school officials who allowed this to happen are not held accountable, it sends a dangerous message that others can neglect their duty to protect our children without consequence, she said.
“Based on reports, during the trial of the convicted perpetrator, the Assistant U.S. Attorney highlighted that school officials were aware of the coach’s actions, and specifically identified the principal of CAHS as being aware of the students’ allegations but chose to do nothing. This assertion by the Assistant U.S. Attorney suggests that evidence existed as to the school officials’ knowledge of the misconduct,” James wrote.
In his response, Rhea acknowledged the gravity of the situation but noted that federal investigators found insufficient evidence to prosecute school officials under child abuse or neglect laws.
“Federal investigators interviewed multiple school officials, including principals and counselors who had worked with Smith. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the interviews produced no concrete evidence, leading the federal prosecutors to conclude there was insufficient probable cause to charge any school officials. A chief suspect, however, was Principal Edwards, who was told in 2018 that Smith had been seen taking the CAHS van to Magens Bay at night, where a boy was allegedly seen putting his pants on in the bushes. Edwards was also alleged to have received the complaint by the student who said Smith had assaulted him in Puerto Rico. Apparently, Edwards never followed up on that complaint,” Rhea said in his response.
Additionally, the statute of limitations for charges of failing to report suspected abuse had expired. Despite this, Rhea announced a renewed investigation led by the Department of Justice to explore overlooked evidence and possible administrative punishment for those involved.
“The federal investigation that led to Bruce’s conviction is now closed. I am still not persuaded, however, that every potential witness has been identified and questioned and have set a further investigation in motion. Supervised by Ian S.A. Clement, my St. Thomas-St. John District Deputy Attorney General; H. Timothy Perry, the St. Thomas-St. John District Criminal Chief, and Agent Homer Inniss, of the VIDOJ Special Investigations Unit are reviewing the work done to date and looking for new leads and opportunities overlooked or undervalued by the federal investigation,” Rhea said.
He added that Education still has the ability to do something should insufficient evidence of a failure to report come to light.
“In the event that insufficient evidence surfaces to support criminal prosecution, CAHS and the Virgin Islands Department of Education still have available the means of censuring, disciplining, or otherwise administratively punishing school officials who they can demonstrate turned a blind eye to Bruce’s transgressions,” Rhea said.
The release of the 20-page audit by the V.I. Department of Human Services (VIDHS) and the John Praed Foundation only further intensified calls for reform. The report highlighted critical gaps in VIDE’s abuse reporting protocols, citing cultural barriers, fear of retaliation, and a lack of formal training as major obstacles preventing staff from reporting abuse. According to the audit, only 38 percent of surveyed educators felt adequately trained to identify signs of abuse, and more than half pointed to significant barriers, including fear of retaliation and uncertainty about what constitutes abuse.
Governor Albert Bryan Jr., presenting the findings, emphasized that the audit was not connected to any one case but aimed to address long-standing issues within the education system. However, the timing of the report follows the highly publicized Smith case, raising questions about VIDE’s failure to respond to warnings from school staff. “This report serves as an essential tool in our commitment to protect every child within the Virgin Islands school system,” Bryan said, while acknowledging that an ongoing investigation into Smith’s actions continues.
The audit recommended sweeping reforms, including clearer policies for reporting abuse, enhanced collaboration between VIDE and VIDHS, and the creation of a centralized hotline for reporting abuse. Bryan stated that some of these recommendations have already been implemented, including efforts to improve staff training and enhance communication between agencies.
