63-year-old Spared Jail time for Sexual Assault of Teen Minor

Tonight, a sixty-three-year-old man who was caught on video attempting to assault a thirteen-year-old girl in her school uniform has been spared jail time and fined instead. Emile Brackett, a self-employed resident of Yabra Road in Belize City, initially pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to sexually assault a minor but changed his plea to not guilty when he learned he could face at least five years in prison. He was granted bail, which he met. However, when his case went to trial this morning, Brackett changed his plea back to guilty and asked the court for mercy. The Chief Magistrate explained that the offense is very serious and typically carries a prison sentence of six to seven years. Considering the gravity of his actions, the young age of the victim, and the fact that Brackett is a first-time offender who showed remorse and saved the court’s time by pleading guilty early, the Chief Magistrate decided to impose a fine instead of a custodial sentence. Brackett was fined one thousand dollars, plus five dollars in court costs, which he must pay by February fourteenth, 2025. The incident occurred on April twenty-fifth, 2024, when Brackett allegedly tried to kiss and rub the face of the minor. The video of the assault went viral, prompting charges against him.