Territorial Court Judge Edgar D. Ross Thursday reluctantly dismissed murder and weapons charges against a 24-year-old St. Thomas man so that the U.S. District Court can assume jurisdiction in prosecuting the case.
But Ross' granting of the government's motion to dismiss charges in the highly publicized killing did not come without a severe tongue-lashing aimed at Justice Department prosecutors. In published reports Ross is quoted as saying he feels slighted every time the Attorney General's Office removes a case from local jurisdiction and hands it over to the federal government.
"We have worked too long and too hard for you to create the impression that we are less than capable," Ross said, alluding to the territory gaining full jurisdictional status to try cases which can yield a sentence in excess of five years. Previously, felony crimes such as murder, robbery, rape and other "part one crimes" were tried in District Court.
The motion by the government became necessary after a federal grand jury indicted Deshaune Harrigan in connection with the May 23 shooting death of Jason Carroll on Main Street during a physical confrontation.
Harrigan's attorney Michael Joseph said Thursday he believes the case should be heard in local court only and promised to challenge the move to District Court. "I am going to fight as long and hard as I have to see that the charges are dismissed…This is clearly a local case," Joseph said in published reports.
Thursday's hearing was held on St. Croix because all St. Thomas judges recused themselves, citing ties to the victim's family. Absent from the hearing was the suspect, who remains in a Puerto Rico jail. Assistant Attorney General Guy H. Mitchell was given until midday Friday to secure Harrigan's return to the territory.
Mitchell will prosecute the case in federal court. The U.S. Attorney's Office will not be a part of the prosecution as the victim was the son of First Assistant U.S. Attorney James Carroll.
