By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 23-year-old employee of the National Fishermen Cooperative was fined in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court after admitting he stole 21 lobster tails, saying he needed the money to help pay his stepdaughter’s school bill.
Byron Corliss Tillett appeared unrepresented on Wednesday afternoon before the Chief Magistrate in Court #1, where he pleaded guilty to a single charge of theft.
Tillett was accused of stealing 21 lobster tails weighing a total of 10.6 pounds and valued at $330, property of the National Fishermen Cooperative, on Monday, February 9, 2026.
In mitigation, Tillett apologized to the court and explained his actions. “I am sorry for what I did. I explained to meh boss what happened. In the moment of really needing money to pay something toward my stepdaughter school,” he said.
When asked by the Chief Magistrate what the payment was for, Tillett stated that he needed to cover his stepdaughter’s school bill.
The court heard that Tillett is a first-time offender for theft. Taking his guilty plea into consideration, the Chief Magistrate imposed a non-custodial sentence of a $500 fine plus $5 court costs, totaling $505. He must pay the fine by a date set by the court, in default of which he will serve two months’ imprisonment.
According to police, on February 9 at approximately 6:45 p.m., police visited the National Fishermen Cooperative on Angel Lane, Belize City. There, police spoke with the Processing Plant Manager, who reported that an employee had been caught attempting to smuggle lobster tails from the premises.
He told police that Tillett had placed the lobster tails into a bag in an attempt to steal them but was caught in the act. He requested court action.
A search of a black school bag belonging to Tillett revealed a black garbage bag containing the 21 lobster tails weighing 10.6 pounds and valued at $330. Tillett was subsequently escorted to the Queen Street Police Station, where he was formally charged with theft.
The post Fisherman fined $500 for stealing 21 lobster tails to pay stepdaughter’s school fees appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 23-year-old employee of the National Fishermen Cooperative was fined in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court after admitting he stole 21 lobster tails, saying he needed the money to help pay his stepdaughter’s school bill. Byron Corliss Tillett appeared unrepresented on Wednesday afternoon before the Chief Magistrate in Court #1,
The post Fisherman fined $500 for stealing 21 lobster tails to pay stepdaughter’s school fees appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
