Columbus Short -- Partying in the Caribbean is Criminal!

This picture may be enough to put Columbus Short behind bars.

Short chose the Caribbean over court Wednesday. He had been ordered to appear before a judge in his domestic violence case but was a no show. The judge issued an arrest warrant.

Lo and behold ... Columbus was living large at a festival called Fantasy Barbados ... a Mardi-Gras-like celebration.

Nation News on the island got what could be the smoking gun for the judge ... surely enough to throw the book at the former "Scandal" star.