Man Convicted of Sexual Assault

Forty-nine-year-old security officer Ervin Middleton has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a thirteen-year-old girl and has been sent to the Belize Central Prison. High Court Judge Nigel Pilgrim will decide Middleton’s sentence after a mitigation plea on May sixteenth. Middleton was first accused of raping the girl in September 2020 when she was a standard six student. This morning, Middleton, who was out on bail, heard the verdict after the trial concluded in March. “Guilty of rape of a child,” announced Justice Nigel Pilgrim. Middleton appeared shocked by the verdict. The girl, now eighteen, testified in court that she was home alone when Middleton arrived. He asked for a cup of water, and after she gave it to him, he asked her to lie down with him. When she refused, he forced himself on her. Middleton denied the allegations, claiming the girl made up the story out of revenge because he ended his relationship with her mother after discovering they were related. The judge noted that the prosecution proved all the elements of rape. Middleton will be sentenced on May sixteenth.