By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 27-year-old Belize City mother who was charged after her three-year-old child was found wandering alone at night has been sentenced to three years’ probation after pleading guilty to child abandonment.
Iyannie Alleia Castillo, who was 25 at the time of the offense in November 2023, appeared before Justice Nigel Pilgrim last Wednesday, where she entered a guilty plea. Instead of imposing the mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, the court ordered that she serve a three-year probation term under strict conditions.
As part of the probation order, Castillo must remain under the supervision of a Community Rehabilitation Officer (CRO) for three years, keep the peace and remain on good behavior, report as directed, notify the officer of any change of address or employment, attend all required appointments and counseling sessions, and refrain from consuming alcohol or using illegal drugs.
The court warned that any breach of the probation conditions could result in sentencing for the original offense or further action under Sections 61 and 62 of the Alternative Sentencing Act, 2024.
The charge stemmed from an incident on November 14, 2023, when Castillo’s three-year-old toddler was allegedly found wandering alone on the street at about 10:25 p.m. in Belize City. The matter led to her being charged with abandonment of a child.
In mitigation, defense attorney Sherman Rodriguez urged the court to consider special reasons to depart from the statutory minimum sentence. Justice Pilgrim agreed, noting that Castillo had no previous convictions, showed genuine remorse, pleaded guilty, is employed, and is attempting to rebuild her life.
The judge also considered that Castillo has other children who depend on her support and concluded that a probation sentence was a suitable alternative in the circumstances.
The prosecution was led by Crown Counsel Kirk Brown on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
At the time of the incident, the child was reportedly taken into the care of the Human Services Department. It remains unclear where the child, now believed to be about five years old, is currently residing.
The post Mother who pleaded guilty to abandoning child who was found wandering the streets alone at night avoids 15-year minimum sentence and gets 3 years probation appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 27-year-old Belize City mother who was charged after her three-year-old child was found wandering alone at night has been sentenced to three years’ probation after pleading guilty to child abandonment. Iyannie Alleia Castillo, who was 25 at the time of the offense in November 2023, appeared before Justice Nigel
The post Mother who pleaded guilty to abandoning child who was found wandering the streets alone at night avoids 15-year minimum sentence and gets 3 years probation appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
