St. John’s Wharfside Village Hotel owner arrested in North Carolina for breaking into home, assault

ST. CROIX — A St. John business owner was recently arrested in North Carolina after allegedly breaking into a home and repeatedly punching an occupant in the face, according to court documents.
           
Joseph Decourcy, 46, a resident of the Virgin Islands and Wilmington, North Carolina, was arrested last Friday by the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and charged with simple assault and breaking and entering with the intent to terrorize or injure an occupant in connection to an incident that occurred the day before at a private residence.
           
Decourcy, whose company, WVJD LLC, operates Wharfside Village Hotel in Cruz Bay, allegedly broke into and entered a residence last Thursday in Wilmington, North Carolina with the intent to injure an occupant — Justin Bartosh, 36. Decourcy is accused of striking Bartosh several times in the face with a closed fist, causing apparent injury.
           
According to the incident/investigation report, 30-year-old Olivia Howington, Decourcy’s ex-girlfriend and the mother of his two children, was also involved. The alleged attack on Bartosh came two weeks after Howington sued Decourcy for child custody and child support.
           
On August 19, Howington filed a complaint against Decourcy in a North Carolina court for temporary and permanent child custody, temporary and permanent child support, and attorney’s fees. They were previously in a long-term relationship and lived together until May, according to the complaint.
           
Although the children previously lived with both their parents, they have lived with their mother since May, according to court documents. Since the parties ceased living together, Howington claims Decourcy has failed and refused to pay adequate child support.
           
Howington has requested that the court enter an order determining the temporary and permanent legal and physical custody of the children, an order awarding her child support, both retroactively and prospectively, and an order awarding her reasonable attorney’s fees.
           
Following his arrest, Decourcy was released from custody on a $4,000 bond the same day. His conditions of release required him to provide fingerprints and a DNA sample. His advice of rights was held Monday. His next court date is on September 25. He has retained attorney John Phillips, of Woody White Law PLLC. Attorney Christa Hardie Lawler represents the state of North Carolina.