Dear Source:
Incredible is the only word that comes to mind while reading the recent article headlined “Castillo confessed to killing 12-year-old”. Clearly the most severe tragedy that a family can experience is the loss of a child. This article also has a continuing theme related to our justice system. The theme is the injustice perpetrated on the people of the Virgin Islands at the hands of V.I. Superior Court Judge Leon Kendall.
As a frequent visitor of the court system, Mr. Castillo has repeatedly plea-bargained for reduced sentences thus sliding through the system, offence after offence. Many of these were not simple infractions of the law but serious assault cases. Again Judge Kendall found that Castillo could be released again at the mercy of the court system. Set free to prey again on the people of the VI.
This is not the first time “Catch and Release Kendall” has opted on the side of the criminal. He often finds reasons to grant their release even when the most common logic would deem them as a hazard to the people. Case in point, his direct action put three Estate Dorothea men back on the street after critically beating a man coming out of an establishment in Havensight. Caught by the police and again he finds reason to follow his catch and release policy. Recently he released a man that attacked and sexually brutalized a man in Mahogany Run. Letting the convicted perpetrator out to settle his affairs prior to going to prison. When the Daily announced that Judge Kendall had released the felon I remarked what are the chances this guy will return to go to prison. It resulted in a police standoff and thousands of tax dollars wasted. This waste of our tax dollars should be reimbursed by the judge was my first thought. Now after the most recent event it’s my opinion that the judge should have is retirement fund garnished.
After reading about the Mahogany incident I vocalized my disgust at the judges actions and the blind mind-set that ignores the accused individual’s prior history, severity of the crime, and his or hers predictable behavior if released. I was told that the judge follows the letter of the law.
The same day while expressing my opinion about Judge Kendall it was explained that his term nears its end and with a bit of luck he would be off the bench. As explained that to remove a judge is hard even after such a miscarriage of justice. Its my opinion that this single incident of releasing Castillo and thereby aiding and abetting a proven criminal to be back on the street contributed to the murder of a 12-year-old.
Removing a judge. Is it really that difficult? Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore was suspended for refusing to remove the 10 commandments from public display, the Word of God and we cannot remove this judge. Allow the judge to finish his term and collect his retirement when we knowingly have seen consequences of his actions seems to me clear grounds to immediate dismissal.
Let the “Honorable” Judge Kendall face the mother of the murdered child and explain why his actions were in the best interest of everyone.
In my book Judge Kendall wins without doubt the “Cheeky Bastard” for 2006 and is the leader of the pack for 2007.
Larry Boecker
St. Thomas
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