ST. THOMAS, V.I. – Sentencing has been delayed for Cecil Rouse who was convicted of attempting to murder his wife. The incident occurred a little more than four years ago.

At Rouse’s sentencing hearing Wednesday before V.I. Superior Court Judge James Carroll III, Rouse’s attorney, Robert King, made an oral motion asking the judge to recuse himself. He based his motion for recusal on the fact that Carroll recently served as acting attorney general.

“The prosecutor is sentencing the defendant,” King said.

On May 26, 2015, Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp nominated Carroll as acting attorney general, a position which he held until August of that same year. 

Carroll concurred with King.

“The code of judicial conduct,” Carroll said, “does allow when there’s full disclosure, if I don’t have any bias, I could move forward. I will be issuing an order of recusal for myself. Renee Gumbs Carty will also recuse herself and the case will be reassigned to a new judge.”

In an April 20 letter, Mapp announced his nomination of Gumbs Carty to serve as a superior court judge in the St. Thomas-St. John district. She was confirmed by the full senate on June 2. Gumbs Carty worked at the department of justice for more than 10 years – as assistant attorney general and more recently, as deputy attorney general.

Rouse, 65, was arrested on May 22, 2012 and charged with the attempted murder of his wife. Rouse shot his wife in her abdomen with a hand gun at their Estate Anna’s retreat residence. He was subsequently convicted by a jury of all charges. He remains incarcerated awaiting his sentencing.