By Breaking Belize News Staff: A seven-month pregnant mother expecting twin boys is free today after spending a night at the Belize Central Prison because she was unable to pay an outstanding $155 court fine dating back to 2025.
Thirty-five-year-old Leeann Monique Samuels was released on Wednesday after Port Loyola Area Representative and Minister of State Gilroy Usher contributed $100 toward clearing the outstanding fine through Ladyville Highlights, while the balance was covered with assistance from the organization and its founder, Albert Magdaleno.
Samuels had been taken to prison on Tuesday after appearing in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on a new charge of possession of utensils used for smoking a controlled drug. Police alleged that they found her with a silver pipe measuring approximately 3¼ inches during a search at a Belize City residence.
Samuels initially pleaded guilty; however, after the police facts were read to her, she disputed a key part of the allegation, telling the court that the pipe had not been in her hand as police claimed. She said the object was beneath the chair where she had been sitting and fell when she stood up.
Because her explanation amounted to a denial of the prosecution’s facts, the Magistrate treated the guilty plea as equivocal and entered a not guilty plea on her behalf. Samuels was offered bail of $400 plus one surety, but an outstanding $155 fine from August 2025 prevented her release.
Unable to pay the old fine, a warrant was prepared and Samuels was sent to the Belize Central Prison. Her imprisonment came on the fourth birthday of her first set of twins, two girls.
The case returned before the Chief Magistrate on Wednesday morning, when a support officer from the Women’s Department was also brought into court. The Chief Magistrate subsequently dismissed the new possession-of-utensils charge against Samuels. No reason for the dismissal was stated in court.
Attention then shifted from prosecution to getting Samuels support ahead of the birth of her twin boys, who are expected in November. The court discussed assistance for the expectant mother and her children, and Samuels was eventually released into the care of the Women’s Department support officer and Magdaleno.
According to Magdaleno, Usher contacted him Wednesday morning and offered $100 toward Samuels’ outstanding court debt after learning that she had been remanded because she could not pay the $155.
Usher is the PUP Area Representative for Port Loyola and currently serves as Minister of State in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy and Logistics.
Ladyville Highlights, operated by Albert and Fiona Magdaleno, has previously assisted Belizean families facing medical, housing and financial difficulties by using its social media platform to connect people in need with donors.
After one night behind bars, Samuels walked out of court a free woman, with efforts now focused on securing assistance for her and her unborn twins.
The post Woman 7 months pregnant with twins released from prison after 1 night; Minister Gilroy Usher donates $100 to $155 fine, Ladyville Highlights getting her help appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A seven-month pregnant mother expecting twin boys is free today after spending a night at the Belize Central Prison because she was unable to pay an outstanding $155 court fine dating back to 2025. Thirty-five-year-old Leeann Monique Samuels was released on Wednesday after Port Loyola Area Representative and Minister of
The post Woman 7 months pregnant with twins released from prison after 1 night; Minister Gilroy Usher donates $100 to $155 fine, Ladyville Highlights getting her help appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
