High Court to decide on sentence for Mexicans who admitted to stealing two rental cars in July 2023

By Aaron Humes: On February 12, High Court Justice Nigel Pilgrim will sentence Mexican nationals, Alejandro Jair Gonzalez Vasquez, 28, and Carlos Francisco Morales Jara, 37, both businessmen who were initially arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s court on October 11, 2023, with theft and abetment to theft in connection with the alleged stealing of 2 vehicles, a white Kia Sorento 2020 4-door and a white Chevrolet Equinox 2021, 4-door SUV vehicle value $60,000 each, property of Budget Auto Rental, which were stolen in July of 2023.

Representing the Mexicans in the High Court was attorney Lynden Jones while the Crown was represented by Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl-Lynn Vidal.

On Friday Justice Pilgrim heard mitigation pleas on their behalf. Four relatives spoke on the two Mexicans behalf including an aunt and a cousin, but Justice Pilgrim chose to reserve his decision as to what sentence to impose, taking into consideration all that was said.

While defense counsel Jones argued for a fine and compensation to the company, Director Vidal believes the two should spend significant prison time in addition to a fine and compensation, appropriated to the amount of money the rental company has submitted to the court they would have generated from the rental of the two vehicles in revenue over a period of time.

Jones said the men have showed remorse and the court should show mercy and leniency, as they have no previous record for theft.

Director Vidal argued that the vehicles were never recovered, and that the matter was serious enough to be tried at the High Court following preliminary inquiry rather than at the Magistrates Court. It follows that the penalties would be potentially increased from up to two years in jail or a fine of not more than six thousand dollars to up to ten years imprisonment and a fine and compensation. The sentence should not be suspended either as the men are not Belizeans and their behavior cannot be directly monitored by authorities here when they live in Mexico.

The thefts cost more than a quarter million dollars in financial costs and a loss of confidence by staff with regard to customer behavior.

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