By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 56-year-old father and a 48-year-old mother were handed a non-custodial sentence on Thursday after pleading guilty to child cruelty. The sentence follows a period where the couple allowed their then-14-year-old daughter to leave their home to live in a sexual relationship with a grown man.
Appearing before Justice Nigel Pilgrim at 9:35 a.m., the parents avoided immediate imprisonment by entering into a plea agreement with the Crown. Justice Pilgrim ordered the following terms as part of their punishment:
- 100 Hours of Community Service: To be completed within 12 months.
- Mandatory Supervision: The parents must report to a Community Rehabilitation Officer (CRO) starting Monday, December 22.
- Professional Counseling: They must attend eight sessions with a licensed mental health practitioner.
- Compliance: They must follow all reasonable directions from the CRO and report any change of residence.
Justice Pilgrim made it clear that if any terms of this order are breached, the parents will face an alternative sentence of two years in prison.
In his analysis, Justice Pilgrim emphasized that while the daughter chose to leave, a 14-year-old is legally incapable of making such a decision. He noted that under Section 60 of the code, anyone over 18 responsible for a minor who exposes them to unnecessary suffering can face up to 10 years in jail.
“Children are vulnerable, they are to be protected. Children are developing, they need to be nurtured. Children are precious, they need to be valued,” Justice Pilgrim stated. He warned that regardless of cultural or religious customs, the Laws of Belize are “paramount” and do not permit sexual activity with minors under 16, nor do they allow parents to condone such living arrangements.
The court heard a moving Victim Impact Statement from the daughter, now 17. She had been living with her boyfriend in San Pedro until a local clinic visit alerted the Human Services Department to her situation.
Despite the abandonment, the teenager begged the court for leniency, stating that she blamed herself for her parents’ legal troubles. “I always knew they cared for me,” she told the court, explaining that they had tried to convince her to come home and continued to provide for her and her own young daughter. “If my parents go to jail, I will be affected. All I want to do is get over this and live a normal life with loved ones.”
The Crown explained that the decision to enter a plea agreement was motivated by a desire to “keep a family together.” Justice Pilgrim agreed, noting several mitigating factors:
- Both parents had no previous criminal convictions.
- They lived “criminal-less lives” until this incident.
- They showed genuine remorse by pleading guilty.
While the starting point for sentencing was four years, these factors reduced the potential prison term to two years, which remains suspended pending the successful completion of their community service and counseling.
The post Parents who allowed their 14-year-old daughter to live with ‘man’ get off with 100 hours community service appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 56-year-old father and a 48-year-old mother were handed a non-custodial sentence on Thursday after pleading guilty to child cruelty. The sentence follows a period where the couple allowed their then-14-year-old daughter to leave their home to live in a sexual relationship with a grown man. Appearing before Justice Nigel
The post Parents who allowed their 14-year-old daughter to live with ‘man’ get off with 100 hours community service appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
