By Breaking Belize News Staff: Fifty-six-year-old Calvin Anthony Young of San Pedro has seen partial success in his appeal before the High Court, after Justice Candace Nanton dismissed his appeal against conviction but reduced his two-year prison sentence by eight months.
Young appeared before Justice Nanton on Friday morning to hear the outcome of his appeal arising from his conviction in the San Pedro Magistrate’s Court. The Crown was represented by Director of Public Prosecutions Crown Counsel Joseph Perez.
Young was convicted on October 1, 2025, after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of controlled drugs, having been found in possession of 105 grams and 61 grams of cannabis. He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment by the learned trial magistrate.
In her ruling, Justice Nanton found that Young received a fair trial and that his conviction was not unsafe, dismissing his appeal against conviction. However, the judge allowed his appeal against sentence, finding that the trial magistrate failed to clearly indicate a starting point, apply deductions for aggravating and mitigating factors, and give a discount for Young’s early guilty plea. Justice Nanton noted that from the court record, it was uncertain what considerations were applied during sentencing.
As a result, Young’s sentence was reduced from two years to 14 months. Having already served four months, he now has approximately one year remaining to serve. Justice Nanton ordered that the revised sentence take effect from September 30, 2025, the date on which Young entered his guilty plea.
During submissions, Crown Counsel Joseph Perez argued that Young’s grounds of appeal were without merit, maintaining that both the conviction and sentence imposed by the trial magistrate were lawful, procedurally fair, and within the court’s discretion. He further submitted that Young’s guilty plea was unequivocal, voluntary, and properly accepted, and that none of the alleged procedural errors amounted to a constitutional breach warranting appellate interference.
Young, who was unrepresented at the time of his conviction, had argued in his appeal that he did not receive a fair hearing, that his rights were not properly explained before his guilty plea was accepted, and that the trial magistrate failed to consider mitigation, apply a one-third discount for his early guilty plea, or follow proper sentencing guidelines.
The charges against Young stem from his arraignment on October 1, 2025, in the San Pedro Magistrate’s Court on two counts of possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act. Upon pleading guilty, he was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, a sentence now reduced by order of the High Court.
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By Breaking Belize News Staff: Fifty-six-year-old Calvin Anthony Young of San Pedro has seen partial success in his appeal before the High Court, after Justice Candace Nanton dismissed his appeal against conviction but reduced his two-year prison sentence by eight months. Young appeared before Justice Nanton on Friday morning to hear the outcome of his
The post High Court upholds conviction against San Pedro man for weed bust but reduces sentence by eight months appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.