Police News
Costa Rican national remanded for defrauding Belizean beach resorts
San Pedro Police formally charged 39-year-old Costa Rican national Christopher D'Angelo Alvarado Marchena for "Obtaining Property by Deception, Possession of Counterfeit Currency, and Possession of Controlled Drugs." Marchena was detained after being accused of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that defrauded two high-end Belizean beach resorts of thousands of dollars in unpaid services.
Community and Society
San Pedro officers recognized for their hard work
Several officers attached to the San Pedro Police Formation received awards on Tuesday, February 13th, for their dedicated efforts in maintaining law and order on the island. Inspector Darwin Serano presented the recognitions to the various officers who work in the different sections of the local Police Department.
Police News
Jasmine Hartin’s Drug Possession and Common Assault case adjourned to March
Canadian National and former resident of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Jasmine Hartin, was back at the Magistrate Court for the charges of Drug Possession and Common Assault. This time, her hearing was in Belize City on Friday, January 26th, where the case was adjourned to March 27, 2024. Before leaving the court, Hartin was required to meet a new security bail of BZ$2,500 cash. She met the bail and was allowed to leave.
Police News
Police Booth installed at San Mateo entrance
The police presence around the San Mateo subdivision north of San Pedro Town will increase after installing a police booth. On Monday, January 8th, the police booth was inaugurated at the entrance of San Mateo with the presence of local government officials and representatives of the San Pedro Police Formation.
Crime
Jose Mendoza convicted for the fatal stabbing of his father-in-law
Just before Christmas, former island resident Jose Ricardo Mendoza was convicted for the 2018 fatal stabbing of his father-in-law, Gaspar Vargas. Mendoza was tried at the High Court in Belize City, where he was given 25 years for the crime. He was sent back to the Kolbe Foundation-Belize Central Prison to start his sentence.
Crime & Violence
Tracey Betancourt found not guilty of Lamont Lipka’s murder
Former island resident Tracey Betancourt, 26, was found not guilty, in her absence, of Lamont Lipka’s 2018 murder during a hearing at the High Court in Belize City on Thursday, December 21st. Betancourt, who remains at large, had been jointly charged with Leon Walford, 38, for the murder of Lipka, an American national businessman in San Pedro Town. In July 2022, her verdict for murder was to be handed down; Betancourt was out on bail, absconded from the court hearing, and since then has been on the run. While she was not found guilty, the High Court noted that Betancourt could still face the escape charge because she voluntarily decided to abscond.
Crime & Violence
Police still looking for one suspect following Caye Caulker stabbing
Роlісе continue to look for one male person following а stabbing incident оn thе іѕlаnd оf Сауе Саulkеr оn Ѕundау, December 10th. Police identified the victim as Evan Haynes, 28, a construction worker, who was transported to Belize City’s Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), where he remains in a stable condition.
Crime & Violence
Delson and Tionne Paguada brothers sentenced for Paul Jex murder
On Wednesday, December 20th, Delson and Tionne Paguada were convicted at the High Court in Belize City for the 2018 murder of Jimell Paul Jex in San Pedro Town. Delson was sentenced to 24 years, and his younger brother Tionne to 21 years.
Crime & Violence
Four arraigned in San Pedro for Irvin Martinez’ murder
On Monday, December 18th, David Gill Lambey, 18, was arraigned at the San Pedro Magistrate Court for the Murder of islander Irvin Enderson Martinez. Martinez, a 28-year-old bartender, was fatally stabbed on Friday, December 15th, after an altercation with Lambey and three other individuals. The other three persons, 22-year-old Zephania Mariano, Zechariah Mariano, and 19-year-old Keyron Lambey, were also arraigned for the charge of Aggravated Assault. They were all remanded to the Kolbe Foundation- Belize Central Prison until their next court date on February 28, 2024.
Crime
Jasmine Hartin is back in San Pedro’s court; case on Common Assault and Drug Possession adjourned
On Wednesday, November 22nd, Canadian National Jasmine Hartin returned to San Pedro’s Magistrate Court for the trial on the charges of Drug Possession and Common Assault. Hartin and her attorney, Arthur Saldivar, hoped to conclude these two legal matters. However, they were adjourned to January 26, 2024, to be heard at the Belize City Magistrate Court.
Crime & Violence
Juan Carlos Novel charged for the Caye Caulker homicide of Leslie Verde
On Saturday, November 4th, there was news from La Isla Cariñosa of Caye Caulker about the discovery of a woman found dead in her home. The deceased was identified as 32-year-old Leslie Verde. The body was bruised, and police have since launched an investigation into the cause of Verde's death. While investigations continue, no one has been detained.