By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Belize Defence Force (BDF) soldier and a police officer were sent to prison on Friday after the Magistrate’s Court handed down custodial sentences for perverting the course of justice in connection with the fatal shooting of BDF soldier Jessie Escobar.
Senior Magistrate of Court #3 sentenced BDF soldier Ramon Alberto Alcoser to one year and two months imprisonment, while police officer Juan Carlos Morales was sentenced to one year and eleven months, with both sentences taking effect from today, Friday, December 12, 2025.
The two lawmen were found guilty on November 12, 2025, under Section 63 of the Criminal Code, for giving false and misleading statements following the shooting death of Escobar, which occurred in Santa Familia Village on Sunday, September 5, 2021, at around 7:00 p.m. The court found that both men lied and omitted key details in their statements, amounting to an attempt to pervert the course of justice.
In delivering her sentencing decision, the Senior Magistrate rejected pleas from defense attorneys for non-custodial sentences, emphasizing the seriousness of the offense and the fact that both men were law enforcement officers who “ought to have known better.” She explained that perverting the course of justice undermines the integrity of the penal system and, in the circumstances, warranted imprisonment rather than a fine.
The Magistrate outlined how she arrived at the final sentences, starting from a four-year benchmark and applying adjustments for mitigating and aggravating factors, as well as credits for pre-trial detention. Although both men presented character witnesses and expressed apologies, the court noted that they maintained their innocence and therefore showed no genuine remorse.
During the proceedings, Morales became emotional and told the court that he had recently obtained documents suggesting that another officer lied in the case. The Senior Magistrate advised him that such matters must be pursued before the High Court. Morales’ attorney, Ellis Arnold, confirmed that an appeal will be filed.
Both convicted men were later seen being escorted from the court and transported to prison to begin serving their sentences.
The post BDF soldier gets over 1 year and police officer gets nearly 2 years for perverting course of justice in Jessie Escobar death appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Belize Defence Force (BDF) soldier and a police officer were sent to prison on Friday after the Magistrate’s Court handed down custodial sentences for perverting the course of justice in connection with the fatal shooting of BDF soldier Jessie Escobar. Senior Magistrate of Court #3 sentenced BDF soldier Ramon
The post BDF soldier gets over 1 year and police officer gets nearly 2 years for perverting course of justice in Jessie Escobar death appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
