Two St. Thomas men ruled unfit for trial, sent for psychiatric care

Two St. Thomas residents with schizophrenia diagnoses have been declared unfit to stand trial and will undergo at least six months of inpatient psychiatric treatment, court records show.

Allen Springette, 55, and Coulav Swan, 53, have cycled repeatedly through the criminal justice system over decades. Judge Renee Andre conducted competency hearings for both men on September 10 and directed the V.I. Department of Health to arrange treatment aimed at restoring their ability to participate in their own defence. Both cases will return to court on March 30.

Springette's arrest history spans at least 16 occasions, mostly involving petty theft and property damage. His 2025 arrest followed a break-in at a McDonald's in Lockhart Garden, where officers discovered him sleeping nearby after he had broken a window. A psychologist who assessed him noted he was "suffering from a mental defect" when the offence occurred. Both the prosecution and defence counsel agreed he should not stand trial.

Swan has faced arrest at least 10 times. His current case stems from allegations of sexual assault on a safari bus that surfaced two years ago. During the competency hearing, a psychologist testified that Swan has schizophrenia and that without treatment and stable housing, "he would unravel." The psychologist further stated that Swan's condition could improve with psychiatric care unavailable in the territory. Prosecutors and defence representatives both supported the incompetency finding.

Both men will be transferred to off-island treatment facilities at government cost.

The U.S. Virgin Islands lacks an inpatient psychiatric facility, a shortage that has persisted despite policy action. Governor Albert Bryan Jr. declared a mental health emergency in 2019 and enacted the Behavioral Health Act in 2022, which required establishing at least one treatment facility. In January, Bryan disclosed that plans to build such a facility have been shelved due to an estimated $242 million cost.

Mental health challenges remain widespread in the territorial corrections system. Roughly 40 per cent of V.I. Bureau of Corrections inmates receive mental health treatment, with schizophrenia being the most common diagnosis among the prison population.