Denise Stanley appeared before Magistrate Tamia N. Richards today February 19, 2016 charged with the indictable offences of theft and false accounting in relation to monies she allegedly converted to her own use and benefit. Photo: VINO

Her bail was set at $60,000 and she was ordered to lodge her passport and was ordered not to make contact with any of the witnesses or persons connected to the case, not even through the internet and social media. Photo: Team of Reporters

The mother of four, who is employed by Village Cay Marina, is to return to court on May 20, 2016, where the process should begin to have the case transferred to the High Court for trial.

The court heard that Stanley had an arrangement with Bailey Penn where she agreed to transfer the sum of $300 a month to the law offices of JS Archibald and Co on his behalf until a specified amount was paid off.

The court further heard that she allegedly failed to make a number of those payments. According to the facts of the case, Stanley allegedly collected five of those payments which she failed to turn over to the law office as arranged. 

This continued until Penn called the law office to inquire about whether payments have been made on his behalf only to hear that no payments had been made between August and November 2015. 

Penn, who was overseas attending to his sick wife, became suspicious when the defendant contacted him to tell him to inform her when he is about to return to the territory.

He then contacted the law enforcement authorities on December 22, 2015. A report was made to the Road Town Police Station and an investigation conducted by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) who visited the Moneygram office to inquire about the transactions between the defendant and Penn showing all of the dates and amounts sent.

Police also searched Stanley's home but nothing was found there. She then visited the Road Town Police Station and was informed of the charges against her. When cautioned, she said, “Let me be honest. Lying and running will not help. Yes, I took the money.”

She was thereafter arrested for the offence of theft. Police also searched her car and found two Moneygram forms. An audio interview was conducted by the Police where the defendant admitted to taking the money for July, September, October and November of 2015.

Arguing for his client, attorney at law Jamal S. Smith said that Stanley is not a flight risk and that she has cooperated fully with the Police. He said she has four children, three of whom live with her. Further, two of them are in school ages 10 and 14. He said she has lived in the territory all of her life.

Her bail was set at $60,000 and she was ordered to lodge her passport and was ordered not to make contact with any of the witnesses or persons connected to the case, not even through the internet and social media.

Stanley back in 2012 had faced illegal harbouring charges brought against her by the Crown and was sentenced to serve seven months in Her Majesty’s Prison at Balsam Ghut.