By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 19-year-old construction worker from Crooked Tree Village avoided immediate imprisonment on Tuesday after pleading guilty to keeping ammunition without a gun licence following a police search at a horse race in Burrell Boom.
Ismael Isac Adolphus was charged after police allegedly found him with a pellet gun and later recovered a single 9mm round during the encounter at the Castleton Horse Track on September 20.
Adolphus, who appeared unrepresented before the Chief Magistrate, pleaded guilty to keeping ammunition without a gun licence.
According to police, officers conducting searches at the horse track noticed what appeared to be a firearm tucked into Adolphus’ waistband. When questioned, he allegedly told officers that he had documentation for the weapon and led them to a brown Honda CR-V parked outside the venue.
Police say Adolphus retrieved the item from the vehicle and it was determined to be a pellet gun, which was incapable of firing live ammunition.
During the encounter, however, a bronze-coloured 9mm round reportedly fell to the ground. Police said Adolphus did not have a gun licence authorizing him to possess live ammunition.
In court, Adolphus told the Chief Magistrate that the pellet gun belonged to his uncle and that he did not know carrying it to the event would create a problem.
“I never know it was illegal,” he told the court, adding that he had no intention of harming anyone.
While possession of the pellet gun itself did not form the basis of the criminal charge, the live ammunition did.
Because Adolphus is a first-time offender, the Chief Magistrate requested the intervention of the Community Rehabilitation Office to assess whether an alternative sentence may be appropriate instead of imprisonment.
Adolphus was offered bail of $4,000 with two sureties of $2,000 each, which he was able to meet.
His bail conditions include reporting to a police station weekly, remaining free of new criminal charges and not applying for travel documents or visas while the matter remains before the court.
Adolphus is due back in court on October 5, 2026, for sentencing.
The post Teen stopped for pellet gun at horse race but arrested after dropping 9mm bullet; Fined $4,000 but avoids jail appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 19-year-old construction worker from Crooked Tree Village avoided immediate imprisonment on Tuesday after pleading guilty to keeping ammunition without a gun licence following a police search at a horse race in Burrell Boom. Ismael Isac Adolphus was charged after police allegedly found him with a pellet gun and later
The post Teen stopped for pellet gun at horse race but arrested after dropping 9mm bullet; Fined $4,000 but avoids jail appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.