Two days before he is to make his first appearance in Territorial Court on criminal charges that he misused government funds, a legal defense fund was established for former Gov. Roy L. Schneider.
Schneider and three of his former executive staff members are charged with conspiracy, fraud and falsification of records. A fourth is charged with conspiracy.
On Tuesday, an advertisement appeared in the V.I. Daily News "Calling all Friends of Roy." The ad asks people who want to "vindicate our beloved former governor" to join the "RLS Legal Defense Fund."
The ad says that further information can be obtained by calling 773-0227.
A call to the number by St. Thomas Source revealed a recording urging callers to leave name, number and message.
Schneider, Maureen Bryan, Alvin Battiste and Dean Wallace are all expected to appear in Territorial Court on Thursday morning for an arraignment before Judge Ive Arlington Swan. The proceedings are set to begin at 9:30 a.m.
Schneider is being represented by attorney Joseph Arrellano. Wallace has hired
defense attorney Stephen Brusch to represent him. It could not be learned who will represent Bryan or Battiste.
Bryan served as Schneider's executive assistant, Battiste was the director of Financial Management and Administration for Government House under
Schneider, Wallace was acting Finance Commissioner.
The Justice Department contends that Schneider, Bryan and Battiste knowingly falsified government pay vouchers to hide the identity of a person who occupied a hotel room at the government's expense in the aftermath of Hurricane Marilyn. While a consultant to the governor, Walter Brunner, stayed in the room, the former governor and his staff members filed documents stating that then Government House spokesman Jean Greaux was the occupant at the Marriott Frenchman's Reef. Though the Finance Department refused to process the documents on two occasions, Schneider and Wallace authorized payment for the room in question in the waning days of the Schneider administration.
Assistant Attorney General Douglas Sprotte will represent the government at what is expected to be a relatively short court proceeding Thursday.
