By Breaking Belize News Staff: A retired veteran of 22 years, Austin Olivera Sr., is speaking out to clear his name after pleading guilty to theft last week, insisting that he is “no thief” and that the incident was an honest mistake.
Olivera Sr., 60, who was unrepresented at the time, pleaded guilty to theft last Tuesday and was later fined $200 plus a $5 court cost. Having paid the fine, he is now a free man. Despite the conviction, Olivera said he never intended to steal and believes the situation could have happened to anyone.
The charge stemmed from an incident involving $100 withdrawn from another man’s ATM account. The cardholder reported that he had left his Heritage Bank debit card in the ATM tray at the Shell Gas Station located at Mile 9 on the Philip Goldson Highway on Saturday, December 20, 2025.
Police investigations revealed that surveillance footage showed the cardholder leaving the ATM at about 8:50 a.m., and Olivera Sr. using the same ATM between 8:51 a.m. and 8:55 a.m. that morning. Olivera was never found in possession of the debit card.
According to Olivera, when he inserted his own card into the machine, it failed to work, but two sums of money—$60 and $40—were dispensed. He admitted that he took the money but said he left the card at the machine and departed with the intention of returning the funds to police, noting that he was aware the ATM camera had captured his image.
Olivera said that while on his way to work, police detained and questioned him. He claims that before he could explain what had occurred, he was labeled a thief and that officers were unwilling to hear his account.
He was arraigned in Court #5 on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty and arrangements were made for him to return the $100 to the complainant. The matter was adjourned to Thursday, January 8, 2026, for sentencing. By then, Olivera’s family had sought legal advice from attorney Leroy Banner.
At sentencing, Attorney Banner attempted to have the guilty plea withdrawn, submitting that his client did not fully understand the charge or its consequences. However, the court ruled that the plea had already been entered and accepted, and the matter proceeded to sentencing. As a first-time offender with no previous convictions, Olivera was given a non-custodial sentence and fined.
Olivera said he was shocked by the reaction on social media, where he was condemned and branded a thief. He noted that he had never been in trouble with the law before and that he had faced the possibility of imprisonment, with the magistrate’s starting point ranging from two to six months, before mitigation resulted in a fine instead.
Maintaining his innocence, Olivera questioned how police arrived at the theft charge, reiterating that he never stole the ATM card and never intended to steal the money.
The post Retired veteran clears name in ATM ‘theft’ case, says he never meant to steal but ATM just dispensed money appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A retired veteran of 22 years, Austin Olivera Sr., is speaking out to clear his name after pleading guilty to theft last week, insisting that he is “no thief” and that the incident was an honest mistake. Olivera Sr., 60, who was unrepresented at the time, pleaded guilty to theft
The post Retired veteran clears name in ATM ‘theft’ case, says he never meant to steal but ATM just dispensed money appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
