Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2025. 3:53 pm CST.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 36-year-old Belize City father, Michael Cowo, has pleaded guilty to cruelty to a child after he left his two-year-old son home alone following a night of heavy drinking. Cowo appeared unrepresented before Justice Nigel Pilgrim, who accepted his guilty plea and deferred sentencing to November 13, 2025.
Justice Pilgrim ordered the preparation of a Social Inquiry Report, a Prison Report, and a Victim Impact Statement before deciding on the appropriate sentence. The case is being prosecuted by Crown Counsel Shanell Fernandez-Peyrefitte.
The charge against Cowo stems from an incident on July 29, 2023, at his home on Lacroix Boulevard. According to the facts presented, Cowo and his common-law wife spent the evening drinking before getting into an argument. Cowo reportedly told the woman to leave their home and forbade her from taking their son. He then also left the house, leaving the two-year-old child alone.
Around 4:00 a.m. the next morning, a concerned neighbor found the toddler wandering in the middle of the street and took him to safety. The child was later handed over to police, who had been alerted after the boy’s grandmother reported him missing.
Police said Cowo refused to make a missing person report when he was informed the child was missing and that his actions amounted to wilful abandonment, exposing the child to potential harm. He was later charged under Section 6 of the Criminal Code, Chapter 101 of the Laws of Belize for cruelty to a child.
Cowo remains on remand until his sentencing hearing next month.
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The post Father pleads guilty to child cruelty after heavy night of drinking; toddler found wandering street at 4:00 a.m. after being left home alone appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2025. 3:53 pm CST. By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 36-year-old Belize City father, Michael Cowo, has pleaded guilty to cruelty to
The post Father pleads guilty to child cruelty after heavy night of drinking; toddler found wandering street at 4:00 a.m. after being left home alone appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.