Belize City man pleads guilty to damaging girlfriend’s iPhone during domestic dispute

Published by [email protected] at June 12, 2025

Posted: Thursday, June 12, 2025. 7:01 pm CST.

By Breaking Belize News Staff: A domestic dispute has landed 27-year-old Thomas Pop of Cumberbatch Street, Belize City before the court, where he pleaded guilty to damaging his girlfriend’s $1,200 iPhone but denied assaulting her.

Pop appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Ludlow Black on Thursday evening and was arraigned on two charges: damage to property and common assault against his common-law wife. The allegations stem from a May 23 incident in which Pop reportedly destroyed the phone and assaulted his girlfriend during a confrontation.

In court, Pop admitted to damaging the phone but entered a not guilty plea to the assault charge, claiming confusion and stating that his girlfriend intended to withdraw the complaints. However, she did not appear in court to support that claim.

Magistrate Black imposed a non-custodial sentence of a $300 fine plus $5 in court costs for the damage to property conviction. On the common assault charge, Pop was granted bail of $1,500 with one surety and ordered to move out of the home he shared with his girlfriend. As a condition of his bail, he must stay at least 25 feet away from her and avoid any contact while the case remains before the court.

Pop is scheduled to return to court on July 31, 2025. It is expected that the woman may seek to formally withdraw the assault charge at that time.

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.