By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 50-year-old Belize City man with five previous convictions has been sentenced to three months in prison after pleading guilty to stealing pipes valued at $150 from his neighbour.
Rene David Castillo, who has also used the names David Castillo Ayuso and David Castillo, appeared unrepresented before the Chief Magistrate in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on a single charge of theft.
The court heard that Castillo stole the pipes on June 11, 2026. Castillo pleaded guilty and asked the court to impose a fine instead of imprisonment.
However, court records showed that Castillo had five previous convictions, including convictions for theft and handling stolen goods. The Chief Magistrate also noted that he had used different versions of his name during previous court appearances, although each was connected to the same date of birth.
The complainant told police that the pipes had been placed in his yard before they disappeared. A neighbour reportedly said she had seen Castillo enter the yard, while surveillance footage later showed him wrapping the pipes in an object and removing them from the property.
Castillo reportedly claimed that the owner’s brother had encouraged him to take the pipes, but the Chief Magistrate was not convinced by his explanation.
He was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and taken to the Belize Central Prison.
The post Repeat offender sentenced to three months in jail for stealing neighbour’s pipes appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 50-year-old Belize City man with five previous convictions has been sentenced to three months in prison after pleading guilty to stealing pipes valued at $150 from his neighbour. Rene David Castillo, who has also used the names David Castillo Ayuso and David Castillo, appeared unrepresented before the Chief Magistrate
The post Repeat offender sentenced to three months in jail for stealing neighbour’s pipes appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.