Man who committed a firearm offense gets fined instead of prison time

Posted: Tuesday, December 6, 2022. 9:40 pm CST.

By Breaking Belize News Staff: Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser told Belize City resident Shane Pratt that he was lucky to receive a fine instead of prison time today, as he appeared in court charged for a firearm offense.

Pratt appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court this morning along with his attorney Ronell Gonzalez, to answer to a single count of discharging a firearm in public.

After a brief consultation with his attorney, Pratt pleaded guilty to the offense and pleaded with the Chief Magistrate to show mercy. He added that he lives with his 53-year-old mother and daughter and is the sole income provider for their household, stressing that a prison sentence would cause them great hardship.

The Chief Magistrate asked Pratt’s mother, who was in court, to speak on the situation, and the mother told the court that she has not eaten or slept well since the incident occurred. She also pleaded with the court on her son’s behalf, saying that he was indeed remorseful for his action.

Fraser fined him $600 plus a $5.00 cost of court which he was ordered to pay by February 28, 2023 or he will face six months in prison.

On Sunday, December 4, Pratt exited Radiance Cool Spot on Faber’s Road around 12:30 a.m., pulled out a firearm and fired a single shot in the air. A Police constable in the area later identified him as the man who fired the shot and he was arrested.

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