Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2025. 6:57 pm CST.
By Breaking Belize news Staff: In a striking courtroom decision on Tuesday morning, Chief Magistrate Deborah Rogers dismissed charges brought against four minors and a 19-year-old youth worker who had been accused of violating the State of Emergency (SOE) regulations by assembling in a group of more than three persons.
The accused group included Donie Wite, 19, a worker with the Leadership Intervention Unit (LIU) and resident of Ordonez Street, and four minors aged 13, 14, and 17, all students from different schools in Belize City. They were jointly charged under the SOE regulations after being detained on Saturday, May 10, at the corner of Administration Drive and Ordonez Street.
All five appeared unrepresented before the Chief Magistrate at the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Coney Drive. Due to the adult being jointly charged with minors, the matter was heard in the Magistrate’s Court rather than the Family Court.
Chief Magistrate Rogers declined to take a plea, citing the lack of legal grounds for the arrest. “It’s entrapment when someone is arrested for something they don’t know is a crime,” she said, criticizing the officers for failing to issue any warnings or demonstrate discretion—especially given the presence of minors.
The Magistrate further described the incident as a “victimless offense,” stating, “The SOE is meant to prevent crime, not arrest people arbitrarily.”
Testimonies from the defendants and family members suggested the arresting officer, PC Brian Lopez, acted aggressively and may have been under the influence of alcohol. One mother recounted being threatened with arrest when she tried to clarify why her 13-year-old son was being taken away. With told the court the group was simply talking and walking off when a police mobile arrived and they were abruptly detained.
The police report stated the group had been observed “socializing” and began walking away when they saw the police mobile. PC Lopez allegedly informed the group that assembling in a group of three or more violated the SOE regulations under Statutory Instrument No. 68 of 2025.
Despite the officer’s justification, the Chief Magistrate found that no proper investigation had been conducted and that none of the individuals had prior offenses. She advised the group to file formal complaints with the Professional Standards Branch over their treatment.
The Prosecutor in the case offered no opposition to the dismissal, saying there was no clear evidence to support the charge under the legal definition of “assemble.”
All five individuals were released and cleared of the charge. The case underscores rising concerns about the enforcement of emergency powers and their impact on civil liberties, particularly for youth and vulnerable communities.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.
© 2025, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.
