By Breaking Belize News Staff: Michael Cowo, the father who left his 2-year-old son home alone in 2022—leading the toddler to wander into the street crying—was spared prison time today and instead handed a three-year probation order after Justice Nigel Pilgrim ruled that the circumstances justified departing from the minimum mandatory sentence.
Cowo, who faced a starting point of 15 years in prison for child cruelty, was given what the judge called “a second chance,” based on strong family support, positive character references, his progress in rehabilitation, and findings in his Social Inquiry Report showing a low risk of reoffending. His sister, Crystal Brown, also urged the court to give her brother another opportunity to prove himself as a father.
Justice Pilgrim emphasized that although no physical harm befell the child, the offense was extremely serious—the toddler had been left unattended for hours, exposed to significant danger, and was found crying in the street by a neighbor. Aggravating factors included the child’s young age, the prolonged abandonment, Cowo’s intoxication, his attempt to conceal the incident, and the psychological trauma caused.
However, the court noted several mitigating factors on Cowo’s behalf: no prior convictions, strong work ethic, good character, genuine remorse, and his active participation in alcohol-abuse counseling through the National Drug Abuse Control Council, which named him one of its top achievers. His employer also submitted that he would rehire him upon release, citing him as the family’s main provider.
Under the probation order, Cowo must abstain from all alcohol and illegal drugs, attend counseling, report to a Community Rehabilitation Officer, keep the peace, and comply with all supervision requirements. Justice Pilgrim warned him that any breach—or any report of him drinking at a bar—would send him back to court to face the full 15-year sentence.
At 1:53 p.m., after accepting the terms without hesitation, Cowo walked out of court a free man alongside his common-law wife. Justice Pilgrim told him plainly: “This is your second chance.”
The post Michael Cowo, facing 15 years to life for leaving toddler home alone, gets ‘second chance’ with 3 years probation appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Michael Cowo, the father who left his 2-year-old son home alone in 2022—leading the toddler to wander into the street crying—was spared prison time today and instead handed a three-year probation order after Justice Nigel Pilgrim ruled that the circumstances justified departing from the minimum mandatory sentence. Cowo, who faced
The post Michael Cowo, facing 15 years to life for leaving toddler home alone, gets ‘second chance’ with 3 years probation appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
