Joseph v. Government of the Virgin Islands

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Ralph Mark Joseph [“Joseph” or “appellant”] appeals his conviction for aggravated rape, unlawful sexual contact, and child abuse, arguing that (1) the trial judge abused his discretion in denying Joseph’s pretrial motion to require the victim, S.J., to submit to a psychiatric evaluation; and (2) there was insufficient evidence for a finding of guilt. A review of the record and relevant caselaw indicates that Joseph failed to establish a “substantial need” warranting a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation of S.J. In addition, the trial transcript reveals that the trial…