Belize City man fined $300 for damaging vehicle during dispute

Published by [email protected] at April 28, 2025

Posted: Monday, April 28, 2025. 12:22 pm CST.

By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Wagner’s Lane resident is facing court debt after admitting to damaging a vehicle during a heated neighborhood dispute.

25-year-old Byron Jeffords, an unemployed resident of Wagner’s Lane, appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Ludlow Black in Court #1 on Friday, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of damage to property.

The charge stemmed from an incident on March 25, 2025, when Jeffords, without lawful excuse, caused damage to the rear glass window of a white 1999 Caravan vehicle valued at $495.

In his explanation to the court, Jeffords claimed that the man who owns the vehicle — whom he described as problematic — had previously threatened him and was acting suspiciously on the day of the incident. Jeffords said he feared for his life when the complainant allegedly grabbed a knife, prompting him to throw a pint bottle in defense. However, the bottle struck the vehicle instead.

Magistrate Black imposed a non-custodial sentence, fining Jeffords $300 plus a $5 court cost. Jeffords was also ordered to pay $495 in compensation. He has until May 30, 2025, to settle the amounts or face one month imprisonmentfor failure to pay the fine and distress proceedings for failure to pay compensation.

In his remarks, Magistrate Black emphasized that while Jeffords’ early guilty plea and acceptance of responsibility were noted, he should have sought police assistance rather than taking matters into his own hands.

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