Mexican national busted with crack sent to jail for previous unpaid $35 fine

Published by [email protected] at August 4, 2024

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Posted: Sunday, August 4, 2024. 5:56 pm CST.

By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 68-year-old Mexican-Belizean national is serving a one-week prison sentence for unpaid fines after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled drug. The man, who claimed to have lived in Belize since the age of six, was found with 0.1 grams of crack cocaine.

Roberto Garcia, who was unrepresented, appeared before the Chief Magistrate in Court #1 on Wednesday, where he faced a single charge of drug possession. He promptly pleaded guilty and was fined $150 plus a $5 court fee, with a payment deadline of August 30, 2024. Failure to pay would result in a one-month jail term.

During the proceedings, Garcia’s citizenship status was questioned. Despite his assertion of being a long-time resident, he could not provide documentation proving naturalization. Garcia explained that his attempts to obtain a Social Security card had been unsuccessful.

In addition to the new fine, Garcia owed $35 from a 2016 conviction. Unable to pay this old debt immediately, he was issued a warrant to serve a one-week prison term to settle the outstanding fines. Garcia, a construction worker, is now serving time for these unpaid fines.

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