Maximiliano Velasquez, the St. Croix man accused but acquitted of the torture killing of a Virgin Islands police officer in 2001 and awaiting trial on attempted rape of two family members under 18 in 2020, was arrested again Tuesday for allegedly attempting to fondle the breast of a pre-teen family member, police said.
Velasquez, 69, was identified in court documents through the years as Maximiliano Velasquez Jr. and Maximiliano Velasquez III but police confirmed Tuesday afternoon it was the same man who, in 2012, was one of five arrested for the gruesome murder of police officer Wendell Williams. A witness said Velasquez had dumped Williams’ body in the sea near Buck Island. Jurors found two men guilty of the killing but Velazquez not guilty, however.
In October 2020, police arrested Velasquez on charges of first-degree unlawful sexual contact, domestic violence, and child abuse. An underwear-clad Velasquez allegedly rubbed his genitals against a fully clothed 15-year-old immediate family member. When the girl ran, Velasquez allegedly said, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that, but sometimes I get horny,” according to court records. Velasquez also allegedly repeatedly touched a 9-year-old immediate family member in unlawful ways.
Velasquez denied the accusations. He was remanded to Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility. It was not clear from available court records when Velasquez was freed.
Thursday morning, at about 9:45, a girl under 18 walked into the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station to report that Velasquez had sexually assaulted her. The Criminal Investigation Bureau found Velasquez had put his hand down the girl’s shirt. Police told the Virgin Islands Superior Court Velasquez acknowledged attempting to fondle the girl and was sorry.
“He waived his rights and admitted to placing his hand inside the minor’s clothes,” police said.
Velasquez was placed under arrest and charged with first-degree unlawful sexual contact. He was booked and held without bail per the domestic violence statute. He was transported to the John Bell Correctional Facility pending his advice of rights hearing at the Superior Court.
Police released information Tuesday about another St. Croix man accused of sexually assaulting a family member. Jason Tuitt, 47, faces rape charges for allegedly forcibly assaulting an immediate family member under 18 for more than three years, between August 2020 and October 2023, according to court records. Tuitt was charged in May with first-degree rape, unlawful sexual contact, and assault.
