Loriel L. Weeks of Altona and Welgunst turned herself in to authorities Tuesday morning and was advised of her rights after a judge found probable cause to uphold charges of arson, burglary, grand larceny and embezzlement.
Weeks is charged with setting fire to the V.I. Lottery’s office on Veterans Drive in March of 2010. At that time, emergency units responding to the scene found a small fire in one of the back rooms and officials said later that some "operational papers" were destroyed, while Lottery Director Conrad "Ricky" Francois said money was also stolen from the agency’s vault.
At the time of the fire, Weeks was a Lottery employee making $39,750 per year. During her advice of rights hearing Tuesday in Magistrate Court on St. Thomas, Weeks revealed that she is still a Lottery employee, receiving a full paycheck while on administrative leave with pay.
Weeks said little about the fire, since most of Tuesday’s hearing focused on Weeks’ finances as Magistrate Judge Alan Smith tried to determine whether to assign her a court-appointed attorney.
Weeks testified that while she receives her full paycheck, she is left with only $30 after standard deductions and bills. Weeks said she also makes a little more than $300 every two weeks working as a stocker at Kmart.
The judge ruled that – as someone with "a lot of assets," including multiple properties and a taxi medallion she co-owns with her mother and sister – Weeks should be able to pay for her own legal representation.
At the time of her arrest, bail was set at $10,000, which Weeks did not post prior to turning herself in Tuesday.
Assistant Attorney General Brenda Scales asked Judge Smith to uphold the bail amount, given the "strength of the government’s case against her," and said Weeks should be considered a flight risk and danger to the community.
Smith disagreed and released Weeks on a $25,000 unsecured bond on condition that Weeks makes all court appearances, reports to her probation officer at least once a week, doesn’t break any additional laws and maintains employment, among other things.
Weeks will be arraigned on April 4, and Smith said her attorney has to file a notice of appearance by March 27.
