The main suspect in the case of $13,225 worth of goods that went missing between March 22 and April 25 said he wants to deal with the matter as quickly as possible.

Glenroy Fergus was charged with three counts of burglary on Monday morning at the Magistrates’ Court in front of Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards. He spoke on his own behalf, not yet represented by a lawyer, and said he would meet any bail conditions as long as he could go home to his children.

“Everybody knows me. I don’t get into these kinds of situations,” said Mr. Fergus, who claimed he was at a “weak point” of his life at the time of the alleged incidents. “I’m a BVIslander; I’m not a threat to anybody, and I have no previous convictions.”

Ms. Richards, however, denied bail.

“Burglary on its face is a very serious offence,” she said.

The complaints

Each complainant in the series of burglaries notified the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force of missing jewellery, according to Crown Counsel Kael London.

On March 22, the defendant allegedly trespassed at a residence in Brewers Bay, where he took gold jewellery and watches worth $5,540, Mr. London said.

On April 25, a $1,000 black leather Bulova watch went missing from a residence in Trunk Bay, according to the prosecutor. During their investigation, police interviewed a neighbour who recounted seeing a black car parked outside the residence and seeing a man matching the description of the defendant climb into a window, the court heard. The residence was dusted for fingerprints, and police found matches to Mr. Fergus, according to the prosecution.

On April 25, police responded to a complaint after $6,685 worth of jewellery went missing at another residence, Mr. London said.

No bail

Ms. Richards gave Mr. Fergus the choice to be tried in High Court or Magistrates’ Court.

“I can tell you right now I want the matter to be dealt with in this court,” he responded. He added that he will find a lawyer to represent him. After he requested bail, Ms. Richards said that violating the sanctity of another’s home heightens the alleged offence.

She added that the court would also take into consideration factors such as his clean record, the seriousness of the offences, and his ties to the jurisdiction. The maximum sentence for his actions is three years in prison and a $3,000 fine.

Mr. Fergus was ordered to return to Magistrates’ Court on June 18.

Handling stolen goods

Mr. Fergus’s girlfriend Sheylena Smith, who also appeared in court, was charged with handling the stolen goods.

Mr. London said Ms. Smith admitted to police that the jewellery she was given was not new and could have been stolen. Mr. London asked Ms. Richards to deny Ms. Smith bail since she was already on bail for another outstanding police matter.

But defence attorney Patrick Thompson applied for bail, stating that the 25-year-old has two children, ages 4 and 7, and she is their primary caregiver.

Mr. London then asked the court to impose a curfew on the accused, after which Mr. Thompson argued that the enforcement of a curfew would be an onerous task.

Furthermore, Mr. Thompson argued, the two children could have emergency matters that would force Ms. Smith to violate the terms of curfew.

Ms. Richards addressed Mr. London and said, “If I had some reason to think she shouldn’t be outside at night, I would agree.”

She granted Ms. Smith $50,000 bail with surety to appear in Magistrates’ Court on June 18.