Special Privileges for Attorney Lee Rohn’s Plea In Drug Case?
Prosecution requests "off calendar" hearing in seven year old felony case
Atty. Lee Rohn
It may very well be legal, but it certainly is peculiar.
If the Virgin Islands Superior Court agrees, and nearly seven years after the alleged offense, St. Croix Attorney Lee Rohn will enter a plea sometime after Sunday, February 14, to answer criminal charges filed against her by the Virgin Islands government in April of 2003 for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. And if the Superior Court agrees, the hearing will be held on an “off calendar” day.
The request is made more unusual by the fact that it was the prosecuting attorney, Melissa P. Moroney of the Virgin Islands Attorney General’s office, who filed the motion because the defense had a scheduling issue.
The motion, filed Dec. 4, 2009, in the Virgin Islands Superior Court, requests “that this Honorable Court schedule a change of plea hearing in the above captioned matter sometime after February 14, 2010, due to the schedules of the defense. The defense requests an off-calendar day and the People have no objection.” (Italics. bold added, motion attached)
We’ve got some questions. But first, a little background.
According to court documents, on March 29, 2003, when Rohn was stopped during a routine security screening at St. Croix’s Henry Rohlson airport, it was discovered that she was carrying what a police affidavit described as “a substance believed to be marijuana in a vacuum sealed plastic bag and further contained in a tennis shoe,” in her bag. The substance was later verified as marijuana. The court document went on to say that when questioned, Rohn allegedly told a US customs officer that she was taking the drugs to her boyfriend in Puerto Rico.
Rohn was fined at that time for failing to list the drugs on her customs form. Five days later, on April 4, 2003, she was formally arrested and charged with felony counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. In explaining the lag between the incident and the arrest, a law enforcement official said at the time that officials had been thorough in their investigation and wanted to be sure they had “credible evidence and everything they needed before the arrest,” according to reports. She was released on her own recognizance on a $10,000 bond.
Since that time, Rohn has exercised multiple legal means to avoid pleading in the case, including asserting that a criminal proceeding after she had already paid a fine at customs constituted “double jeopardy,” that is being penalized for the same incident more than once; claiming that she had been improperly charged; and asking that some evidence be suppressed from being submitted in the event of a trial. (Double Jeopardy and Improperly Charged case attached)
It now appears that a plea will be entered despite all efforts. And in a gesture of remarkable accommodation, the prosecution has requested that the court schedule the plea hearing sometime after February 14 because the defense has a scheduling issue.
We don’t claim to be attorneys, but a couple of things seem pretty clear cut. Rohn was in possession of a controlled substance. This is not in dispute. That is a crime. She was stopped on her way to board a plane. That means the controlled substance was planned to go with her.
What is there to plead?
Any savvy attorney will use all means and resources at his or her disposal to handle a matter like this and that should not be a surprise. But what is troubling is that after all this time, seven years, it appears that the resolution will be a plea bargain that the prosecution has requested be submitted on an “off calendar” day.
Why did the prosecution file this motion? If the defense has a scheduling issue, would it not be logical that counsel for the defense would petition the court and seek agreement from the prosecution? And why “off calendar?” What reason is there for this hearing to be handled differently from any other matter of this type?
These are legitimate questions that deserve an answer. In this time when the public trust in Government and its agencies is at a significant low, one would think that all efforts would be made to assure that where there is an opportunity for some “transparency” that opportunity would be taken.
We hope the Department of Justice is aware that this is a highly visible case, and that the way it dispenses justice in this matter will be closely watched by a very aware community.
We will keep you posted.
Hmmmmm, It’s just a thought? But, where do you think Dejongh got his “inside information” about Kenneth Mapp from?
Connect the dots people, connect the dots…….There’s a lot more to this story.
Does this mean that Rohn has ditched Donastorg for DeJongh?
Muchooo melee,papito!
Ay Papi!
The best is yet to come. TRUST!
@t ‘Enough’: Hey,you’re preaching to the choir!Nice hearing from you.
Springer has cross the line on this one…
This is unbelievable! How am I suppose to have faith in our Virgin Islands with such situations being allowed by the very people that are suppose to protect our rights as Virgin Islanders???
Enough:Whatinside story does DeJongh have on Kenneth Mapp? Nobody can have more things in their closet than Governor DeJongh.
It is not so much what De Jongh has on Mapp; it is more so what De Jongh will or will not do to get another term in offcie.
Your right EWO…..DeJongh will do ANYTHING for another 4 years.
DeJongh’s closet is indeed filthy but he will not go down without a fight. He plans on damaging anyone that gets in his way.
People be alert and be ready. It’s time we say ‘Bye to DeWolf’.
he need to know the this time others are going to fight back
Be for real folks. The Atty. still had cases against this administration. She just happens to be rather selective about which cases are selected.