Sexual Assault | Greater Belize Media

Lanza Gets Seven-Year Sentence After Child Sex Conviction

Brianna Bennett — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 01:05:24 +0000

A twenty-five‑year‑old father of two is now behind bars after the High Court sentenced Kenroy Lanza to seven years in prison tonight. He was convicted of Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with an eleven‑year‑old boy, offenses committed on three occasions in 2020. Justice Candace Nanton weighed both sides today, but said the seriousness of the crime, the victim’s young age, and the presence of another minor during one incident demanded a strong sentence. She also noted that Lanza showed no remorse, insisting the child made up the story. The judge started at eight years, reduced it for some mitigating factors, then raised it again to reflect the gravity of the offense. With credit for one year already spent on remand, Lanza has six years left to serve. The case was prosecuted by Joseph Perez, and the child testified in camera during the short trial.

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

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Belmopan Taxi Operator Accused of Assaulting Teen Girl

Brianna Bennett — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 01:24:42 +0000

A disturbing report out of the nation’s capital has led to the arrest of a Belmopan taximan, accused of sexually assaulting a thirteen-year-old girl. Police confirm the incident unfolded publicly, fueling fears about child protection and predators acting in broad daylight. The case has sent shockwaves through the community, as authorities move swiftly to hold the accused accountable and urge parents to remain vigilant.

Stacy Smith

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“On Saturday third January, 2026, Belmopan Police formerly arrested and charged Wilbert Cal, a twenty-nine-year-old taxi driver of Belmopan for the crime of sexual assault. This arrest follows police investigation into a report made by a thirteen-year-old minor who stated that she had visited a Chinese establishment when a male person who was unknown to her approach her and touch her inappropriately.”

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Taxi Driver Charged With Sexual Assault of Minor

Zenaida Lanza — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 21:26:53 +0000

Police have formally arrested and charged 29‑year‑old taxi driver Wilbert Cal for the crime of sexual assault.

He is being accused by a 13‑year‑old minor. The girl told police she had visited a Chinese establishment when a man, unknown to her, approached and touched her inappropriately.

Cal was taken into custody on Saturday and subsequently charged.

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Guatemalan Dollar Van Driver Granted Bail in Teen Assault Case

Brianna Bennett — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 01:13:39 +0000

A dramatic scene unfolded in court today; a Guatemalan dollar van driver accused of sexually assaulting a fifteen-year-old girl broke down in tears when he learned he was getting bail. Police prosecutors had strongly objected, calling him a flight risk. But forty-three-year-old Wenseslao Garrido-Veilz insisted he wouldn’t run, saying he has a family here and no passport. The allegations are serious: investigators say on Saturday, the teen boarded his van on Cemetery Road. After dropping off other passengers, he allegedly drove her to a feeder road near Cisco on the George Price Highway and touched her inappropriately. A medical exam confirmed harm. In court, Garrido-Veilz pleaded not guilty, first in Spanish, then surprisingly in English, saying, “Thank you God…I neva touch dah young lady.” He was granted bail of five thousand dollars with strict conditions: no contact with the victim, no leaving the country, and weekly check-ins with police. He’s due back in court January 13^th, 2025.

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Belize City Man Charged in Teen Assault Case

Brianna Bennett — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 01:12:23 +0000

There’s a disturbing case out of Belize City tonight, a fourteen-year-old girl says she was assaulted while shopping at a local store. Police have charged fifty-year-old construction worker Carlos Balon with sexual assault after the teen reported that he touched her inappropriately on her thigh and leg, leaving her shaken and uncomfortable. Balon appeared in court today, unrepresented, and pleaded not guilty, telling the magistrate, “No sir, I am not guilty.” He was granted bail of four thousand dollars under strict conditions, he must stay away from the victim, keep at least one hundred feet from her, and report to police every Friday. The alleged incident happened Sunday night at a store on Freedom Street. The teen immediately told the shop owner, and her mother later took her to the police station to file a formal report. Authorities say they’re taking the matter seriously as the case moves forward.

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Former UDP Senator Charged with Sexual Assault

Brianna Bennett — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 01:24:38 +0000

A Belizean teacher is facing serious charges tonight. Police have arrested and charged thirty-nine-year-old Macario Coy for sexual assault. The case began earlier this month when a thirty-six-year-old teacher reported that Coy, a former UDP senator, assaulted her on November fourth. Two weeks later, on November twenty-first, Coy turned himself in to Punta Gorda Police, accompanied by his attorney. He was formally charged and taken to court, where bail was set at three thousand dollars. His next court date is January twentieth, 2026. We’ll keep following this case as it develops.

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Hung Jury in Viral Police Abuse Trial

Brianna Bennett — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 01:32:32 +0000

A tense courtroom drama is unfolding tonight at the High Court in Belize City, where a jury is deep in deliberation over the fate of two former police officers accused of a shocking abuse of power. The case involves fifty-one-year-old Jason Shawn and forty-four-year-old Leslie Martinez, both once members of the Belize Police Department. They’re on trial for willful oppression, a serious charge that stems from an incident back in April 2020. Here’s what the prosecution says happened: the officers allegedly stumbled upon a couple having sex in an abandoned house and, instead of intervening professionally, they reportedly forced the couple to continue while they filmed the act. That video didn’t just stay private, it was shared in a police WhatsApp group and eventually went viral, sparking public outrage. Today, a jury made up of eight women and one man began deliberating at 2:49 p.m. Before long, they returned with questions, specifically asking Justice Candace Nanton to clarify what exactly constitutes willful oppression. The judge broke it down for them, explaining the legal definition and the elements of the charge, along with a review of the Crown’s evidence. But by 4:16 p.m., the jury came back again, this time with a split decision: five in favor, four against. That’s what’s known in legal terms as a hung jury. Justice Nanton told them she was prepared to discharge them, but not just yet. She reminded them that they hadn’t reached the full two-hour deliberation mark and sent them back in to try again. At 4:39 p.m., the jurors returned to the deliberation room, still trying to reach a unanimous verdict. This trial began on October twentieth, with the Crown calling several witnesses, including the couple involved, now in their late forties and early fifties, and a fellow officer who was granted immunity to testify against his colleagues. That officer, Villamil, had his charges dropped earlier this year and told the court he was walking away from the scene when he saw the others filming. Defense attorney Leroy Banner represented the accused officers, while Crown Counsel Robert Lord led the prosecution. Both Shawn and Martinez deny the allegations, claiming they never forced anyone to do anything. We’ll continue to follow this story closely and bring you updates as soon as the jury reaches a decision, or if the judge decides to discharge them.

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Single Mom Demands Justice After Alleged Workplace Assault

Brianna Bennett — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:31:07 +0000

Tonight, a young mother is breaking her silence with a chilling story of workplace harassment and sexual assault. Twenty-nine-year-old Jessica Bencomo, a pharmacy assistant, took to social media to share her ordeal. She says that on October seventh, her boss tried to kiss her, despite her repeated protests. Jessica claims that when she reported the incident to her department, her concerns were brushed aside. And to make matters worse, she says police haven’t treated the case with the seriousness it deserves. Now unemployed and raising her children as a single mom, Jessica is calling on the Belize Police Department and the Pharmacy Association of Belize to step in and help her get justice. We spoke with her today to hear why she’s determined to make her voice heard.

Voice of: Jessica Bencomo, Alleged Sexual Assault Victim

“It was verbal harassment in the beginning. It’s not something that happened just the other day, but it, on October seventh, it got physical to the point where he was pulling me towards him and, trying to kiss me. And I shouted his name and I told him to stop and I told him no. To me, it just was a traumatic experience.

Britney Gordon

“Has anything like this ever occurred before? Were there other instances of harassment before the initial event?”

Voice of: Jessica Bencomo, Alleged Sexual Assault Victim

“I’d say verbal harassment only, but, never physical.”

Britney Gordon

“And did you report the incident? Was there anybody that you could report it to at the workplace, like HR or did you file a police report?”

Voice of: Jessica Bencomo, Alleged Sexual Assault Victim

“We don’t have hr. We only have a manager. But I never took it to the manager, I had a supervisor that I told. I felt uncomfortable, but that was about it. I thought that I had the situation under control and that he knew boundaries. I explained to him that he wasn’t somebody I was interested in, and I didn’t want to jeopardize the only job I have to provide for my kids. I made a report on the, like two days after. After I regained strength. And I said, you know what? I need to report this. Because I’m really scared. I am emotionally distraught. And after making the report, I was being addressed by one of the officers, but the leading officer that came in after she went blank, look at my statement and said, okay, this isn’t, sexual harassment. This is just common assault. And that right there made my entire mood. Just like, why the hell am I even making a report for if this doesn’t even give me hope? They told me that he was going to be called in. And they also told me that he would be going to court yesterday, which I found that he didn’t go at all.”

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Court Finds Police Officer Guilty of Workplace Sexual Assault

Brianna Bennett — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 01:34:59 +0000

Tonight, a police officer is behind bars after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a fellow officer while on duty. Thirty-nine-year-old Brigilio Ack, a resident of Mahogany Heights, began serving an eight-month prison sentence today following a ruling handed down by a Senior Magistrate. The incident happened back in March 2023 at the Rocky Road Police Booth, where Ack reportedly touched and kissed his female colleague without her consent. She bravely testified in court, detailing how the assault unfolded during their shift. The evidence was overwhelming, and despite remaining silent during his trial, Ack was convicted. His actions have not only violated the law but shaken trust within the force, leaving many to question how such behavior could happen within the ranks of law enforcement.

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Ex-Diplomat Faces Court Over Assault Allegations

Brianna Bennett — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:11:45 +0000

Following-up tonight on the case involving Said Badi Guerra, who is facing serious allegations of sexual assault against a minor. Guerra appeared in court earlier this week following his arrest in connection with the incident which reportedly occurred at his home in Benque. While Guerra remains out on bail authorities say the investigation is ongoing. The case has drawn national attention due to Guerra’s former diplomatic status and the nature of the allegations.

Hilberto Romero

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head of Crime Investigation Branch

“Based on an investigation carried out after a report was made Said Guerra was arrested and charged with sexual assault, harm and procuring definement by threat. H was taken to court where he was granted bail.”

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