Steven Payne Faces Life in Prison After Guilty Verdict
The conviction of former Senator Steven Payne Sr. in a Florida court marks the culmination of a years-long saga sparked by the V.I. Consortium's exposé on sexual abuse allegations.
The V.I. Consortium's investigative reporting, starting in April 2022, revealed complaints from a young female staffer and two other women, Chezni Jones and Steffi Emilien, who detailed allegations of abuse spanning from Payne's time as a V.I. Police Department officer to his tenure as a legislator.
The revelations led to a Senate ethics investigation, Governor Albert Bryan's call for a V.I. Department of Justice inquiry, and Payne's expulsion from the 34th Legislature.
The V.I. Consortium's coverage triggered a series of events leading to Payne's conviction.
Author's summary: Payne faces life in prison after guilty verdict.