21-Year-Old Woman Charged with Making Child Pornography

In a shocking turn of events tonight, a resident of Gales Point finds herself behind bars at the Belize Central Prison. Twenty-one-year-old Shania Welch, a student at Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College, was arraigned late this evening on grave charges of creating child pornography and sexually assaulting a ten-year-old child.  The allegations are deeply disturbing. Between December 2020 and January 2021, Welch is accused of making a video in which she engaged in explicit sexual acts with the minor. The video reportedly shows Welch coercing the child to perform sexual acts on her using an aerosol deodorant bottle.  The young victim, accompanied by her mother and a social worker, recounted the harrowing experience to the police, identifying Welch as the perpetrator.  Appearing in court today without legal representation, Welch was denied bail and remanded into custody. She will remain at the Belize Central Prison until her next court appearance on November 29, 2024.