By Breaking Belize News Staff: Francis Nolberto, 49, began serving a lengthy prison sentence on Tuesday after being convicted of multiple sexual offenses involving a six-year-old child. Justice Nigel Pilgrim handed down the final sentence following a trial that concluded in November, marking the end of a legal process that began with the defendant’s arrest in 2022.
Nolberto was convicted on November 6, 2025, at which point his bail was revoked. During the sentencing hearing, Justice Pilgrim ordered the following terms:
- Assault of a child under 16 by penetration: 15 years, 11 months, and 20 days.
- Sexual assault: 3 years, 11 months, and 20 days.
The court determined these sentences after weighing aggravating and mitigating factors, including the extreme vulnerability of the victim at the “tender age of six.”
The court heard harrowing testimony through victim impact statements provided by the child and her mother. The mother detailed a life of “overwhelming stress and guilt,” explaining that her daughter has withdrawn from her usual activities and has been fundamentally changed by the trauma.
The family’s suffering was compounded when Nolberto was initially released on bail. The mother testified that Nolberto would shout at her, eventually forcing the family to relocate for their safety. This move resulted in significant financial hardship and caused deep divisions within the family unit.
“I pray you give him the maximum time in life he deserved,” the mother told the court, describing the struggle of feeling unable to protect her child.
In arriving at the 15-year plus sentence, Justice Pilgrim evaluated the long-term psychological harm caused to the victim and the defendant’s conduct following the initial report. The sentencing takes into account the principles of retribution and protection of the public, ensuring that the gravity of the assault on a minor is reflected in the time served.
The post Francis Nolberto sentenced to over 15 years for sexual assault of 6-year-old girl appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Francis Nolberto, 49, began serving a lengthy prison sentence on Tuesday after being convicted of multiple sexual offenses involving a six-year-old child. Justice Nigel Pilgrim handed down the final sentence following a trial that concluded in November, marking the end of a legal process that began with the defendant’s arrest
The post Francis Nolberto sentenced to over 15 years for sexual assault of 6-year-old girl appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
