By Breaking Belize News Staff: Prominent defense attorney Richard Dickie Bradley has applied for a stay of execution on behalf of convicted teacher Alex Jason Noralez, 47, who was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of two counts of sexual assault.
Noralez, of Barracuda Street in the Boca Del Rio area of San Pedro Town, was originally charged with three counts of sexual assault involving two minor high school students under the age of 16. On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, he was found guilty on two of the three counts and was subsequently sentenced on January 27 to two 18-month terms of imprisonment.
One month and six days after his conviction, Noralez’s family retained Bradley, who has since filed an application in the Lower Court seeking a stay of execution pending appeal. Bradley argued that Noralez has strong prospects of successfully overturning his conviction and has asked the court to grant bail while the inferior appeal is being heard.
When the matter was called at approximately 10:45 a.m. on Friday, the Chief Magistrate ordered that the proceedings be held in closed court, barring the media from observing the hearing. The application was heard in private and concluded after about an hour.
Following the hearing, Bradley emphasized that every citizen has a constitutional right to appeal a conviction. He also highlighted Noralez’s ongoing health concerns and his more than two decades of service as a teacher. This is Noralez’s first conviction for a sexual assault offense.
The Crown, led by a Sergeant Police Prosecutor, made submissions opposing the application and urged the court to carefully consider its ruling.
On the two counts for which Noralez was convicted, the prosecution alleged that he assaulted two second-form students. He was acquitted on a third count involving a first-form student after the Magistrate expressed doubts about his guilt in relation to that allegation.
During his trial in San Pedro, Noralez denied all allegations, maintaining his innocence and stating that he only hugged the students without any sexual intent. He was represented at trial by Attorney Ronell Gonzalez.
The Chief Magistrate has reserved her decision for March 24, 2026. On that date, the court will determine whether the stay of execution will be granted and whether Noralez will be allowed bail pending appeal.
The post Dickie Bradley seeks stay of execution for Alex Noralez, teacher convicted of sexually assaulting 2 students; Dickie says Noralez has ‘strong prospects’ of overturning conviction appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Prominent defense attorney Richard Dickie Bradley has applied for a stay of execution on behalf of convicted teacher Alex Jason Noralez, 47, who was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of two counts of sexual assault. Noralez, of Barracuda Street in the Boca Del Rio area of San Pedro
The post Dickie Bradley seeks stay of execution for Alex Noralez, teacher convicted of sexually assaulting 2 students; Dickie says Noralez has ‘strong prospects’ of overturning conviction appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
