Elia Lanza pleads guilty to assaulting court reporter Anita Nembhard while doing her job; Fined $1,333 and bound to keep the peace

Posted: Monday, October 27, 2025. 8:15 pm CST.

By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Belize City mother narrowly avoided prison time on Monday after pleading guilty to aggravated assault upon a journalist, an offense that carries a potential sentence of up to seven years.

34-year-old Elia Lanza, a resident of the Belama area, appeared unrepresented before Chief Magistrate Deborah Rogers in Court #1, where she admitted to assaulting freelance court reporter Anita Nembhard outside the Belize City Magistrate’s Court earlier this year.

Before entering her plea, Lanza requested a sentencing indication, asking what penalty she might face if she pleaded guilty. The Chief Magistrate explained that the starting point for the offense was a $3,000 fine, but deductions would be given for mitigating factors — including no prior violent offenses and an early guilty plea — reducing her fine to $1,333.00 plus $5 court cost, payable by April 27, 2026, in default of one year imprisonment.

In addition, Lanza was bound over to keep the peace for one year in the sum of $5,000, with a default of three months imprisonment if she breaches the order.

The Chief Magistrate emphasized that what made the incident particularly serious was that it occurred on court grounds, in public view, warning Lanza that such conduct cannot be tolerated.

Prior to sentencing, the court heard an impact statement from Nembhard, who described the personal and professional toll of the incident. Lanza later apologized in open court, expressing remorse and saying she had acted out of anger and frustration. Her apology was accepted.

The assault took place on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, two days after a story aired on Breaking Belize News (BBN) about Lanza’s prior conviction for possession of controlled drugs stemming from a police raid at her Belama home following her birthday party.

Lanza, who has four previous convictions for drug-related offenses, left court relieved that she had been spared jail time but warned to avoid any repeat behavior.

 

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The post Elia Lanza pleads guilty to assaulting court reporter Anita Nembhard while doing her job; Fined $1,333 and bound to keep the peace appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.

Posted: Monday, October 27, 2025. 8:15 pm CST. By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Belize City mother narrowly avoided prison time on Monday after pleading guilty
The post Elia Lanza pleads guilty to assaulting court reporter Anita Nembhard while doing her job; Fined $1,333 and bound to keep the peace appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.