By Breaking Belize News Staff: Convicted police officer Dexter Diego expressed remorse in the High Court this week as Justice Nigel Pilgrim heard mitigation ahead of his sentencing for four counts of unlawful sexual intercourse involving a minor.
Diego, 29, pleaded guilty on July 27 to the four counts involving a girl who was 13 years old when the sexual relationship began. His trial had been scheduled to begin that day, but he entered guilty pleas before Justice Pilgrim. Public reports say the court subsequently ordered a prison report, social inquiry report and victim impact statement ahead of sentencing.
Addressing the court during Wednesday’s mitigation hearing, an emotional Diego apologized to the victim, her family, the court, the Belize Police Department and his own family.
“I am fully aware of my decisions that I have made. I know that they were wrong,” Diego told the court, adding that he regretted the pain his actions had caused.
His sister also testified as a character witness, describing her brother as a helpful and respectable person who provided for his stepmother. She told the court that the case has taken a heavy toll on their family and asked Justice Pilgrim to show leniency when imposing sentence.
The court also heard an emotional victim impact statement from the girl, who said Diego had gained her trust by acting as a confidant before pressuring her into a sexual relationship. She told the court that the experience left her ashamed and embarrassed, forced her to relocate and affected her life.
Diego is also before the courts in a separate case involving another minor. On May 4, 2026, the interdicted police officer was arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on four counts of rape of a child. Prosecutors allege that three of the offences occurred in December 2024, when the girl was 10 years old, while a fourth allegedly occurred in 2025, when she was 11. Diego was remanded to the Belize Central Prison because the Magistrate’s Court could not grant bail on the charges.
The new charges were brought while Diego was already before the courts in connection with the case for which he has now pleaded guilty. The four rape charges remain pending allegations, and Diego has not been convicted in that separate matter.
The post Convicted police officer Dexter Diego apologizes to 14-year-old victim for unlawful sex with her; faces separate trial for allegedly raping 10-year-old girl appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Convicted police officer Dexter Diego expressed remorse in the High Court this week as Justice Nigel Pilgrim heard mitigation ahead of his sentencing for four counts of unlawful sexual intercourse involving a minor. Diego, 29, pleaded guilty on July 27 to the four counts involving a girl who was 13
The post Convicted police officer Dexter Diego apologizes to 14-year-old victim for unlawful sex with her; faces separate trial for allegedly raping 10-year-old girl appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
