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by pltm
(PLTM) - Former Inspector of Police in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Joel Gumbs, was ordered to pay a fine of $1000, after he was found guilty for the charge of common assault, involving his daughter.
Gumbs was sentenced earlier today, May 5, when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards at the Magistrate’s Court.
He was given a month to pay the fine, or serve 2 months in prison.
The court also denied a request made by Gumbs’ attorney, Jamal Smith, who asked that the conviction not be recorded, in light of Gumbs' good character.
Senior Magistrate Richards stated that she is not of the view that someone’s good character is enough for a conviction to not be recorded, adding that good character must be combined with good reason.
According to court records, on July 30, 2014, Gumbs got into an altercation with his daughter, after she saw him with a woman.
As noted by the crown, his daughter of the saw him in his vehicle at the Bolo’s parking lot in Road Town. She waited and observed a female enter the vehicle, and it remained parked, then drove off.
The daughter then followed the vehicle and observed the lady exit the vehicle in the vicinity of Pusser’s.
The daughter allegedly left her vehicle and confronted the female.
Later that evening at home, Gumbs allegedly approached his daughter and began slapping and pushing her, and held her face across her jaw and squeezed.
Both allegedly exchanged hostile words and comments.
The issue then escalated and alerted the mother, who intervened, only to be physically rejected by the defendant.
He then proceeded to hastily escort his daughter out the home, along with her belongings.
