Ortiz v. People

MEMORANDUM OPINION

(May 9, 2017)

THIS MATTER is in the Appellate Division on review from the Magistrate Division based on a notice of review filed by Petitioner, Luis A. Ortiz. For the reasons stated below, Ortiz’s conviction and sentence must be vacated because his constitutional right to a trial by jury was violated. See Murrell v. People, 54 V.I. 338 (V.I. 2010). The case must be returned to the Clerk for reassignment to a Superior Court judge in the Jury Trial Division.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A grey 1992 Toyota pickup truck was reported stolen from the Mon Bijou area on St.…