Man charged after allegedly attacking girlfriend recovering from surgery

A St. Thomas man has been charged following an alleged domestic violence incident in which he attacked his girlfriend and attempted to silence her with a water-soaked pillow while she was still healing from childbirth surgery.

Preppjy Exantus was arrested on October 11 and faces charges of assault or battery with circumstances of aggravation involving domestic violence, and disturbance of the peace by threats, according to court filings in V.I. Superior Court.

The confrontation unfolded around 5:00 p.m. at the couple's Estate Smith Bay residence when Exantus initiated sexual contact. The woman, a Haitian Creole speaker, declined, telling investigators that she remained in recovery 22 days after undergoing a Cesarean section and was experiencing pain and swelling in her lower abdomen.

According to a police affidavit by Officer Jason Thomas of the Virgin Islands Police Department, Exantus responded by accusing her of infidelity. He then seized her mobile phone and pressed her for the access code. When she refused, he struck her repeatedly on the head and mouth, causing her upper lip to split.

As she cried out, Exantus went to the bathroom, soaked a pillow in water and pressed it against her mouth and face in an attempt to muffle her screams. The woman bit his right arm hard enough to force him to release the pillow, then grabbed her infant and ran from the apartment.

Police located the woman at approximately 6:59 p.m. on Cassi Hill near Anna's Retreat, holding her distressed baby. When officers brought her back to the Smith Bay apartment, Exantus denied punching her but acknowledged to investigators that he had soaked the pillow and tried to place it over her mouth to stop her from screaming.

Exantus appeared before Magistrate Judge Simone M. VanHolten-Turnbull on Tuesday for his initial hearing, with a certified French and Creole interpreter present. The magistrate determined there was probable cause on all charges and set bail at $1,000. Exantus was released after paying a 12 percent cash deposit of $120, with the remaining $880 left unsecured.

Release conditions include surrendering his Haitian passport, reporting to the Office of Probation twice each week, maintaining employment, avoiding alcohol and drugs, and having no contact with the victim. His formal arraignment is scheduled for October 30 at 10:00 a.m. in Magistrate Courtroom MG-2.

The V.I. Family Resource Center provides free, confidential assistance around the clock for those in abusive relationships at (340) 776-3966, or 911 for emergencies.