Mother of Five Charged with Cyberbullying Commissioner of Police Chester Williams

A mother of five, Nichole Gilda McDonald, was granted bail today after being charged under the Cyber Crime Act for allegedly spreading a false statement about Commissioner of Police Chester Williams. McDonald, 37, was detained since Friday and spent four nights in custody before appearing in court this morning without legal representation.

McDonald, a matron at the Youth Cadet Corps and resident of Antelope Street, Belize City, is accused of using a computer system to post a false statement on March 5th, which allegedly intended to harm Commissioner Williams.

In court, McDonald pleaded not guilty and clarified that she was commenting on a statement made by her political party leader. McDonald argued that she had no intention to cause harm, stating she was simply reacting to events in Cayo.

The magistrate informed McDonald of the potential penalties for the offence, including a fine of up to $10,000 or a prison sentence of up to five years. McDonald further explained that she and Commissioner Williams were Facebook friends, and her post was in response to a message from her party leader. However, the magistrate advised her to reserve her defence for the trial.

McDonald, who is currently grieving the loss of two of her children’s fathers, expressed distress over her situation. The prosecutor did not object to her bail, which was set at $1,000 with one surety of the same amount. As conditions of her bail, McDonald is required to stay away from Commissioner Williams and his family, refrain from further legal trouble, and avoid using Facebook.

McDonald is scheduled to return to court on May 14th, 2025.