A Superior Court judge granted a bail reduction for a St. Thomas district school administrator accused of rape, sexually assaulting a minor and child abuse. But Presiding Judge Jessica Gallivan set strict conditions to be met for the pending release of defendant Clifton Boyd at an arraignment hearing held Friday.
Boyd, who has served as an assistant principal at public schools on St. Thomas and St. John, was arrested Nov. 21 after a 17-year-old high school student told authorities at his current school about an alleged assault that took place at the Joseph Gomez Elementary School when he was a fifth grader between 2019 and 2020.
After hearing arguments by the defense and the prosecutor, the judge reduced the bail amount to $100,000. Gallivan said the court would grant pretrial release if the defendant pays $10,000 cash and submits a $90,000 property bond against the value of his house.
If those conditions are satisfied, Boyd would be placed on 24-hour home confinement and be required to wear an ankle bracelet monitor at all times. The judge also ordered that Boyd not be allowed to work in any public school while his case is adjudicated.
Both the judge and the defendant appeared by way of video conference at a hearing held in a courtroom Friday in Superior Court Magistrate’s Division at Barbel Plaza. Boyd’s wife and defense attorney appeared in court on his behalf.
The first matter Gallivan addressed was a reduction of bail motion filed by attorney Kelsha Williams on Thursday. The court had to set bail conditions ensuring the safety of the public, especially the safety of minor children who may come in contact with the defendant, she said.
Assistant Attorney General Brenda Scales said the government objected to lowering the $500,000 bail set at an advice of rights hearing held Nov. 24. Williams objected, saying his client had no prior criminal record and the court was obligated to consider him innocent until proven guilty. Boyd’s lawyer added that while the defendant was in custody at the Bureau of Corrections, he had received emails from the Education Department declaring he had abandoned his job and was subject to disciplinary action.
Boyd’s lawyer argued that his client was not a flight risk, had long-standing ties to the community, and that Sharon Boyd — his wife of 40 years — agreed to serve as his third-party custodian.
As Gallivan rendered her decision on the bail reduction motion, Scales asked if the court would allow Boyd to return to work in a public school.
“Is he allowed to go back to Joseph Gomez Elementary School?” the prosecutor asked.
“No,” said the judge, “He is not allowed to go back to any school.”
When the arraignment portion of the hearing opened, Williams entered a not guilty plea for Boyd and requested a speedy trial. A discovery conference is scheduled for April 7, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., before Superior Court Judge Sigrid, with jury selection set for Nov. 23, 2026.
