By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 19-year-old Belize City construction worker avoided jail time after pleading guilty to theft involving another man’s Belize Bank Mastercard, which was used to purchase items during a shopping spree.
Rigel Rhondale Lemoth, of Partridge Street, Belize City, appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Neeshad Mohammed in Court #5 on Thursday, where he was read a single charge of theft.
The charge stemmed from a report made by a 58-year-old security guard of Unity Street, Belize City. The man reported that on Sunday, June 14, while socializing with a friend on Partridge Street Extension, someone entered his 2007 grey Dodge Caliber and stole his black wallet. The wallet contained several personal documents, including his Holy Redeemer Credit Union card, Belize Bank card, Social Security card, driver’s license, gun license and business cards.
Cantun later received several Belize Bank notifications showing that purchases had been made using his card at C&K Supermarket and JC Club. The transactions included purchases of $12, $29.97, $43.98, $65.14 and two separate purchases of $285 at JC Club, amounting to a total of $721.10.
Police later visited JC Club, where surveillance footage and receipts were recovered. The footage reportedly showed a dark-complexioned male dressed in a dark blue T-shirt, dark blue pants and a red cap purchasing two 32-inch PMR televisions using Cantun’s card.
Police identified the suspect in the video as Lemoth. On Wednesday, June 17, officers executed a search warrant at Lemoth’s home and recovered two 32-inch PMR televisions believed to have been bought at JC Club.
In court, Lemoth pleaded guilty but told the magistrate that he did not steal the card, claiming instead that he found it. He said he used it to shop for his mother and nephew.
“This is my first offense. I done give up everything. I nuh wah no trouble,” Lemoth told the court.
Magistrate Mohammed explained that the offense was serious and carried a maximum fine of $25,000 or up to one year in prison. However, because Lemoth was a first-time offender, the court imposed a non-custodial sentence.
Lemoth was fined $1,000 plus $5 cost of court, which he must pay by December 31, 2026. In default, he will serve three months in prison.
The post Teen fined $1,000 after going on $700 shopping spree and buying two TVs appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 19-year-old Belize City construction worker avoided jail time after pleading guilty to theft involving another man’s Belize Bank Mastercard, which was used to purchase items during a shopping spree. Rigel Rhondale Lemoth, of Partridge Street, Belize City, appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Neeshad Mohammed in Court #5 on Thursday, where
The post Teen fined $1,000 after going on $700 shopping spree and buying two TVs appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
