By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 23-year-old Belize City salesman accused of committing a mischievous act against an 11-year-old girl at an apartment complex was granted bail with strict conditions after initially being remanded when he could not meet bail.
Lucas Canti, a salesperson at a store, appeared unrepresented before the Chief Magistrate in Court #1, where he was arraigned on a single charge of committing a mischievous act.
According to police, the complaint was made on Friday, April 3, 2026, when the minor, accompanied by her mother, reported an incident she said occurred about six months earlier.
The child told police that she and her younger sister had previously noticed Canti allegedly trying to gain access to their room through an opening at the top of the wall measuring about three inches wide.
She further alleged that on the day of the incident, as she attempted to leave her room to use the shared bathroom, Canti was waiting outside, blocked her from passing, and attempted to touch her.
The 11-year-old said the encounter left her feeling fearful for her life and deeply uncomfortable. She told investigators that she waited until her mother returned home before disclosing what had happened.
Police recorded statements from both the child and her mother before launching an investigation that led to Canti’s detention at Precinct 1 Police Station and his subsequent charge.
When asked to respond in court, Canti requested permission to explain his side of the story.
He told the Chief Magistrate that he and a friend had been drinking that day before leaving to buy food. According to him, after purchasing two tamales for themselves, he decided to buy three more for the children at the apartment.
Canti said when he returned, he was only extending his hand to give the children the tamales.
“I never did that. Maybe they saw it differently,” he told the court.
He firmly denied ever attempting to touch the child in a sexual manner and also denied the allegation that he had tried to climb the apartment wall or enter through any opening.
Canti also rejected the minor’s claim that this was not the first time he had made her uncomfortable.
After confirming that he understood the charge, he again denied wrongdoing.
Although there was no objection to bail, the Chief Magistrate imposed special conditions aimed at protecting the child.
As part of those conditions, Canti must immediately move out of the apartment he had been renting and find another place to live. He must provide the court with his new address as well as a letter from his new landlord confirming that he is a tenant at the new location.
He later managed to satisfy the bail conditions and was released Wednesday evening.
The post Man charged for mischievous act after allegedly trying to touch 11-year-old girl in apartment complex shared bathroom; he claims he was just trying to give her tamales appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 23-year-old Belize City salesman accused of committing a mischievous act against an 11-year-old girl at an apartment complex was granted bail with strict conditions after initially being remanded when he could not meet bail. Lucas Canti, a salesperson at a store, appeared unrepresented before the Chief Magistrate in Court
The post Man charged for mischievous act after allegedly trying to touch 11-year-old girl in apartment complex shared bathroom; he claims he was just trying to give her tamales appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.