I’m concerned too, says Vanterpool on looter’s 2-year prison sentence
Another legislator has publicly expressed concern over the recent two-year sentence handed down to Shamoii Dagou for looting a television set following Hurricane Irma nearly two years ago.
Speaking at the recent sitting of the House of Assembly in Road Town, Fourth District Representative Mark Vanterpool said the matter is not sitting well with him.
“I heard one member speaking about it in the House, and I am concerned about it too. I know the young man, and up until then he had an unblemished record.”
Vanterpool further noted that Dagou had big plans for his future.
“He tried to go to school to become a basketball player hoping one day to be in the NBA. Who knows? And I know a lot of us in here helped him, his family, we know his family, and regrettably he had to fall under that tyranny, and I don’t know if something can be done about it,” Vanterpool said.
While making it clear that looting is “wrong” and ought not happen, Vanterpool said: “Let’s be careful and look at how we deal with them when they do happen.”
Dagou’s delemma
The first legislator to publicly comment on the matter was Sixth District Representative Alvera Maduro-Caines.
Expressing concern at the situation, she said an assessment of the territory’s judicial system needs to be done.
“While I do not condone crime, I find the sentencing of that time to be a bit harsh considering there were other persons who were caught looting at the time and were given community service,” Maduro-Caines argued at the time.
She then questioned the reason why his matter was taken to the high court and not the magistrate’s court as other looters.
Dagou, a resident of Belle Vue, was sentenced by Justice Ann-Marie Smith to a total 26 months at Her Majesty’s Prison and ordered to pay the value of the television by January 31, 2020. He will serve an additional six months in prison if he fails to pay.
In handing down her sentence, Justice Smith said the offence was aggravated by the fact that it happened immediately after the onslaught of the 2017 natural disasters.
The court had also pointed to the fact that the offender worked as a messenger for the RVIPF at the time of the offence.
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Lock them up. People need to know that, in the event the police are incapacitated again, there will still be penalties to pay if they take advantage. This will help to deter people from doing this again if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime!
so how come expats steal thousands & get months or put knives to throats & get months?…this is very transparent to everyone.
Because the huge majority of expats don’t commit crimes. Your analogy is pathetic.
The fact that members of the legislature is commenting on individual cases, such as this, is damning to ‘your’ country. Shame.
Looting is not only an offence against the state and a particular victim, but society as a whole. It should be aggressively discouraged and the consequence of which should be harsh.
If the courts could have let the police what looted of they could give him a break also
These HOA members of the opposition criticizing the judicial system need some locking up as well.
Opposition, I agree with you 1000 %. Since when these law makers have become law breakers or those condoning law breaking. Lawd do we all need some prayers. Let the judicial arm do their job in peace. People- STAY IN YOUR LANES !!!!!
He without sin throw the first stone
Stop talking horse S**t. Some of the Damn police was helping themselves also. The old man that live up the hill from my house told me one of the people who broke into my house while I was away from my house checking on my parents after the storm he reconize her as a police woman in regular clothes. A next storm blow in, I am going to be sitting right in the middle of the living room with my shot gun waiting.
I think that’s also illegal..
Guns don’t kill people. Moronic NRA gun owners kill people.
I am sorry he is not perfect like you and all of your family members
Just because nobody is perfect is not an excuse for looting or any other crime. Otherwise logically there should be no laws.
Why would you send people on probation or do community service and now a young man you send to jail that not good ..
The young man should have been made to repay Infinite Solutions and do community service with a stern warning that if he were to end up before the courts again he would be dealt with harshly! I know the young man well, he is well mannered, a great sports man and always pleasant. Nobody is saying do not punish him for his actions but 2 years in jail for looting a TV after Irma is f**king ridiculous!
Is it this only thing get stolen from infinite solution, so what happen to all the other stuff, doin this to someone won’t change what already happen, what this is doing is making the real (criminal) thrives most professional or more careful at what they do causing crimes more harder to solve.
Could you please write that again in English? Thank you.
I WONDER IF THAT JUDGE CAN SLEEP THIS IS A D**M SHAME. WHAT THIS YOUNG DID WAS WRONG BUT MY GOD YOU ARE A HEARTLESS HUMAN YOU ARE A D******E IF I HAD THE POWER I WOULD SEND YOU PACKING. AND TO THE PERSON HE STEAL FROM WE ALL HAVE SIN AND COME SHORT WHERE WAS YOUR COMPASSION YOU COULD HAVE ASK THE JUDGE TO HAVE MERCY ON HIM. DO YOU FEEL GOOD WHEN YOU ON THE PULPIT KNOWING THIS YOUNG MAN IN JAIL FOR TWO YEARS FOR STEALING A TV.
It seems that when a crime is committed there are two standards in the Territory. Harsh penalties for expats and Non Belongers and very very light sentences for Belongers. The penalties should be the same across the board. Further, if this man was so good then why did he steal. A thief is a thief. Who his family is or an unblemished record just proves he wasn’t caught in the past. Irma didn’t create thieves. They grew up as one.
Are you casting the first stone? No one is a thief until they are caught.
then the d*******n security guard at the airport authority need charging to she and her mother fear is fear . she loot big and yet she is big security
For real, when I see the Mall cop theif, I want to knock her fake A** out. Not still big security, I say still big time theif. Would not trust her to watch a pack of chewing gum.
All these island people looking out for their own that is why we need local judges and police or if not, the top brass position
So, Is the B.V.I/ Tortola the eight continent??? The last time I checked, it’s a piece of land surrounded by water ( island) This nonsense comes from people who either dropped out of school or flunked their Geography class. All those who seem to know the law better than the lawyers or judges should quit their day jobs and apply for the position. Empty barrels make the most noise.
That is the reason you are on this site braying. If you don’t like the term ‘island man’ go sc&ew yourself. When we all visit the US mainland we are ‘island people’. Yo too thin skinned.
The young man should have been made to pay back the value of the television and given community service. What he did was wrong Yes but, two years behind bars Nooooooo. And to you all that is casting stones, I will say,you the stone casters have help yourselves to something that didnot belong to you. You just didnot get your cards peeped. You F***ING HYPOCRITES. Man cut wife throat and got a slap on the wrist and you all defending the killer about he is nice man and the wife provoked the situation.I hope when the other one who gun down the lady don’t get a slap on the wrist.Others have looted hundreds of dollars worth of stuff and they got a pass. The pastor who was caught with the stolen TV should be serving time also, what’s good for the goose should also be good for the gander.
The govt employees at P**t who are trusted with our security stole much more after Irma and not one in jail. But jail the young man for a TV. Nonsense!
Heard those people in P**T WAS LIKE CHILDREN TURN LOOSE IN A CANDY FACTORY.
The sentencing was too harsh and it is unfair…legislators this is a son of our soil and locking up our youth is not the answer. The police officer and pastor that looted did not get this harsh sentencing so why Dagou???
Free Sham!!!
Here these politicians, there have been so many murders here including against women in recent times have you all politicians come out and condemn the act or the sentences given you all are something else.
Why note that some are women? There’s not a separate crime just for killing women, you know?
I think the judge was unfair with her sentence. I am to the point where I am thinking that the judge have something personal against the man.She needs to explain why the others that were caught with much more stolen property got a free pass and this man got 2 years behind bars for a TV that is worth less than $ 300.00.
The pastor didnot do his Community service or spend a hour in jail. But here goes a two year unjust sentence to a man that took a TV. I am going to say it, and who get mad, oh well, you will get over it.It is time for us true son’s and daughter’s of the soil stick together and look out for each other only. The invaders that comes here don’t give a smack about us.
Neve did and never will. that is fact for Black and white alike. But we must stop speaking unity and begin living unity. Here, we are still failing miserably, thus leaving our doors gaping open for continued exploitation.
We must stop opprssing each other in every aspect of life.
So he tried to go to school to be a basketball player. Maybe aspirations should be a little higher – doctor, lawyer, engineer.
In lots of places after a disaster looters are shot dead . He and the rest who took part are lucky to just get prison . Looting is not just theft it’s aggravated theft. Two years is not likely no and if he behaves 12 months max .bhoo hoo he wanted to play basket ball !!!
I do not condone crimes. The work of the law is to do justice regardless to who is BVislander or exp.Execute JUSTICE TO ALL> Why community service for some and jail time for this young man. That is not handing down JUSTICE to all. Smoething is not right with this judgement. It is flawed
He dose not deserve no 2 years what about the others who sent home there looting stuff that the on barges to there country. As a matter of fact the Justice have no right here sitting as a Judge check her records on Google … BVI Have NO LAWS
You profess to be a man of god. You need to speak out against the sentence that was given to the young man. Both of you were caught with stolen TV’s, why is it that you got a pass and he didnot. IS pastors exempt when they steal ?
So, Is the B.V.I/ Tortola the eight continent??? The last time I checked, it’s a piece of land surrounded by water ( island) This nonsense comes from people who either dropped out of school or flunked their Geography class. All those who seem to know the law better than the lawyers or judges should quit their day jobs and apply for the position. Empty barrels make the most noise.
Opposition, I agree with you 1000 %. Since when these law makers have become law breakers or those condoning law breaking. Lawd do we all need some prayers. Let the judicial arm do their job in peace. People- STAY IN YOUR LANES !!!!!
Vanterpool should have resigned.
Now we got to listen to his nonsense for 4 more years.
Who cares if this low-life had a ‘big future’ and wanted to play in the NBA (yeah right).
He looted. He sole from his neighbor when the territory was on its knees at its lowest point in history.
Most worthy members of society were out caring and looking out for their neighbors but this joker was essentially kicking his neighbor in the teeth while he was helpless on the ground.
All those caught looting in times of national emergency should be given at least 5 years in prison to think and reflect on their selfishness.
Pathetic
The bvi have the most set of ignorant stupid people living there two years for taking a TV. And eighteen months for child molestation ayo promoting sex with underage girls but lock up man for a little bit of weed.shame to say my people from there, glad I was born and raised on the rock stt ayo set of dumb f**ks
Where is the petition for overturning the sentence? I will like to sign. The punishment should be equal.
When you have politicians advocating lenient sentencing for looting after a natural disaster. Theiving when the country and its citizens and businesses are at their most vulnerable and in need of good community spirit, love for our neighbours.
It does not get much lower and this scumbag needs to be taught a lesson that it is not acceptable and there are consequences. The degradation of our community is based on the lack of consequences for doing wrong.
Anyone saying to let him off lightly needs to look at themselves. It’s disgusting and not helpful for a successful BVI. Or maybe in this case there is a reason why this particular “honorable” gentleman wants a pattern of leniency in the courts going forward…
Everyone in this country seems to take things personally, Whether is be judges, police, or businesses.
In my opinion, the underlying issue is not about Dagou. It’s about the disparity of justice.
2 years for looting
18 months for child molestation
7 years for cutting wife’s throat ( murder)
10 years for attempted murder
…..and the list goes on. Something needs to be done about the judicial system and the seemingly disparaging sentencing guidelines, assuming that the guide lines are being used. A judicial review/revamp needs to be done urgently.
Mr. Works for the POLICE he should know better, I know he knows some part of the law and as part of the law Enforcement regardless of his role he should have had some bell ring out in his head not to. It didn’t had current what the ass was the use. Good example Judge should have not gone high court but the penalty is fine to me, still a slap on the wrist.
Mr. Works for the POLICE he should know better, I know he knows some part of the law and as part of the law Enforcement regardless of his role he should have had some bell ring out in his head not to. It didn’t had current what the ass was the use. Good example Judge should have not gone high court but the penalty is fine to me, still a slap on the wrist.