V.I. Attorney General Denise George announced the filing of a motion to revoke the release of 26-year-old Dasha Graham, who was arrested while on release for other violent criminal charges, according to a news release issued by her office.
Graham, arrested on Nov. 10, was advised of his rights on Friday, Nov. 12 in V.I. Superior Court on St. Croix. He is charged with several crimes including possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and possession of stolen property, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
Magistrate Judge Ernest Morris Jr. ordered that Graham may be released upon posting the full amount of his $50,000 bond. If he can secure those funds, he must also locate a suitable third-party custodian and will be placed on house arrest with the use of an electronic monitor, the news release said.
According to an affidavit, the arrest was a result of a traffic stop by V.I. Police officers in the Altona Lagoon area when Graham fled on foot, at one point swimming across an area of the lagoon to escape, the news release states. He was captured in the yard of a private residence after an extensive foot chase. Officers then returned to the vehicle, where they reportedly found a black Smith and Wesson .357 magnum revolver with five live rounds in the cylinder, a white plastic bag containing several vials with a green leafy substance, and a 22-round Glock magazine with 13 live rounds.
Graham had four vials containing a green leafy substance and $448 in cash in his pockets, according to the news release. The leafy substances tested positive for marijuana, and the weight of the marijuana found in the vehicle and Graham’s pocket totaled 132.8 grams (4.6 ounces), George’s office stated. A firearm check revealed Graham does not have a license to carry or possess a firearm in the USVI, she said. An NCIC check was made on the firearm which revealed it had been stolen during a burglary case on Oct. 28, according to the news release.
Graham was transported to the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station, where he was advised of his Miranda rights. Unable to post bail, he was remanded to the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility.
According to the news release, at the time of his Nov. 10 arrest, Graham was out on release for three other pending cases: an unauthorized use of a vehicle case from January 2020; a burglary/domestic violence case from February 2020; and an Arson in the First-Degree case from March 2020. On Friday, Assistant Attorney General Amie Simpson filed a motion to revoke Graham’s release for violation of the conditions ordered by the court.
George reminds the public that a person charged with a crime is considered to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
