By Breaking Belize News Staff: High Court Justice Candace Nanton, on Tuesday, sentenced 45-year-old Fidel Medina of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, to nine years and seven months’ imprisonment for assault of a child by penetration, and two years and seven months for sexual assault, with both sentences ordered to run concurrently.
Medina will therefore serve nine years and seven months behind bars, following a mitigation plea hearing held earlier today.
Medina was found guilty on Thursday, November 13, 2025, of two of three sexual offences after trial. He was convicted on count one for assault of a child under sixteen by penetration and sexual assault, and acquitted on the third count of sexual assault.
In imposing sentence, Justice Nanton said the court carefully considered the aggravating and mitigating factors, the Social Inquiry Report, the Victim Impact Statement, Medina’s personal history and prison report, as well as submissions made by his attorney, Abibi Moguel of Lynden & Associates.
The court noted that under Section 47-B, the offence of assault of a child under sixteen by penetration carries a minimum sentence of 12 years’ imprisonment, which may extend to life imprisonment. Justice Nanton identified the age disparity between the offender and the victim—Medina being 43 at the time of the offence and the child aged nine—as a significant aggravating factor, along with the prevalence of such offences. No mitigating factors were found for the offence itself, though the absence of violence influenced the court’s starting point.
For the assault of a child by penetration, the court applied deductions for mitigation and pre-trial custody, arriving at a final sentence of nine years and seven months. For sexual assault, Medina received a sentence of two years and seven months after deductions.
During mitigation, three character witnesses, all neighbours of Medina—testified to his good character, describing him as helpful, humble, and caring within their community.
The prosecution was led by Crown Counsel Joseph Perez of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Evidence included testimony from the complainant, who testified in camera. Medina remained silent during the trial.
Justice Nanton ordered that both sentences run concurrently, bringing the matter to a close with Medina set to serve almost a decade in prison.
The post Fidel Medina gets almost 10-year prison sentence for ‘assault of a child by penetration’ of 9-year-old girl appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: High Court Justice Candace Nanton, on Tuesday, sentenced 45-year-old Fidel Medina of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, to nine years and seven months’ imprisonment for assault of a child by penetration, and two years and seven months for sexual assault, with both sentences ordered to run concurrently. Medina will therefore serve
The post Fidel Medina gets almost 10-year prison sentence for ‘assault of a child by penetration’ of 9-year-old girl appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
