2024-05-22 - Channel 5 Belize

Stepfather Pleads Guilty and Remanded for Physical Abuse of Minor

Tonight, a violent stepfather is spending his first night on remand at the Belize Central Prison after pleading guilty to physically abusing a three-year-old child earlier this week. Footage of the repulsive incident sparked public outrage on Monday when thirty-three-year-old Devain Flores was seen getting off a motorcycle before kicking and hitting the little boy repeatedly. The Belize City laborer, who stands accused of mistreating the infant, appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Baja Shoman. The revolting episode prompted Commissioner of Police Chester Williams to show up to the lower courts this afternoon in his capacity as a prosecutor where Flores was brought up on two counts of cruelty to a child. Following Flores’ arraignment, ComPol Williams spoke with the media and explained why the charges against the perpetrator were later upgraded.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“It’s a very important matter I must say, it involves a three-year-old who was being abused, obviously by a thirty-three-year-old, and I think that when we have situations of such, the police department, as well as any other organization that has to do with upholding the rights of children, we must do our best in making sure that those persons are brought to justice. Over and over, we are seeing that our young people are being abused in various ways, shape or form and as a responsible organization we will always do our best in working in conjunction with other organizations such as UNICEF, Department of Youth Services, NCFC, et cetera. So we have to make sure we do what we can to protect our children, so we must send a strong signal to abusers of children that we are not playing, we are serious about this.”

Reporter

“Explain the process of how this was upgraded from common assault to these more serious charges.”

Chester Williams

“Well after having viewed the video footage, myself, I believe that the charge of common assault was inadequate. It was basically putting a slap on the wrist of the perpetrator and so I had directed the investigators to further work to gather more evidence and record more statements. That was done yesterday and I must commend the officers from the Domestic Violence Unit for responding quickly to my request. Having obtained the request from them, I communicated with the Director of Public Prosecutions and we both agreed that the charges should be upgraded from common assault to that of abusing a child, basically.”

ComPol Williams: “It will send a strong message.”

The child’s mother was initially reluctant to cooperate with investigators. When the gravity of the situation was explained to her, she had a change of mind. With Flores pleading guilty to both charges, the prosecution is now seeking a custodial sentence which carries a minimum of ten years in prison. Commissioner Williams says today’s successful conviction should send a clear message to perpetrators of child abuse.

Chester Williams

“We had to speak with the mother and explain to her the nature of what we are dealing with. You can’t be a mother and see that your child is being abused in such magnitude and want nothing. I don’t think that a woman should love a man more than how they love their own children and so she was spoken to and eventually she decided that she was going to cooperate with the police and she did. We got the statement from her and so we were able to make significant progress.”

Reporter

“And you got a conviction.”

Chester Williams

“Well of course, yes, the defendant pled guilty to the two counts. And so, as you have heard my submission to the court, I will be seeking a custodial sentence. I don’t think that this is an offense that requires a fine, as a matter of fact, the offense under Section Sixty, Subsection One of the Criminal Code clearly states that it has a minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment. But we do know that even though that is stipulated by law, the magistrate still has that discretion that they can exercise in not giving a custodial sentence and hence the reason I indicated to the court my intent to seek a custodial sentence when the day of sentencing comes.”

Isani Cayetano

“How stern a message do you believe that this now sends to any abuser of children out there?”

Chester Williams

“Well, I would want to think that it will send a strong message. There are many people out there who are constantly abusing children, many of which is not known to the public and I hope that they come more and more known to the public so that we can address them. It’s the only way that we can deal with the issue of child abuse.”

N.C.F.C. Condemns Child Abuse

The National Commission for Families and Children have spoken out to condemn the beating and abuse of children. In a statement released earlier today, the commission said quote, child abuse, in any form, is unacceptable and violates the fundamental rights of children to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment. As advocates for the rights and welfare of children, we continue to prioritize the protection of children and take decisive steps to prevent and address child abuse, end quote. The commission further went on to urge the public to raise awareness regarding child abuse, offer support to victims and hold perpetrators accountable.

Police Raided Doris Grant’s Home; Was it Connected to Scam Allegations?

She made headlines on Monday after being arraigned on forty counts of acquiring property by deception and theft to the tune of one hundred and twenty-one thousand dollars. As we reported, Belize City resident, Doris Grant, maintains her innocence and is out on fifty-thousand dollars bail. Well, Grant is back in the news tonight. She says that police raided her property on Tuesday evening in Gardenia Village. According to Grant, at least six police mobiles filled with officers entered her farm, destroyed the locks on her doors and ransacked the house. She says that the place is hardly ever used, as she spends most of her time at her Belize City residence. Tonight, she is questioning why the authorities searched her home and what it is that they were looking for. We visited the property today where we spoke with Grant.

Doris Grant, Homeowner

“About three thirty, four I received a call that about five to six trucks were at my premise here at my farm and the person said she was not sure if it was police but they all had on black clothes. She said she would take the video when the trucks were coming out to certify that it was police, but she did come out of her house and video that it was police at the premises. As soon as she told me they had left I came here at the house and I notice the camera was put towards the house so it would not catch anything else because it was not visible to see them. When I went to the front of the door, I saw they burglarized the house because they knocked down the locks and I went in saw those were knocked down. When I went in the house I saw they had searched the house.”

Paul Lopez

“Are you aware of what was being sought by these law enforcement officers in your home or on your property?”

Doris Grant

“Well, I would say this, I was detained from Wednesday until Monday morning and if they wanted to search my house, they could have brought me here with a paper saying they wanted to search my house and I would have gotten the key and opened the house. They know me very well so they can’t say I was hiding, or they couldn’t find me. And whole of yesterday I was at my house in Belize City. This is wrong and totally unfair cause I don’t know what they have done inside, if they have planted any gun or if they put in my house. I don’t feel safe at my farm anymore because I don’t know what they did here. This is wrong. This is like you get in somebody’s house and thief.”

ComPol Williams Says He Did Not Oversee Doris Grant House Raid

And today we heard from the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, on Tuesday’s police raid at Doris Grant’s Gardenia Village property. Information suggests that the raid may not be connected to the charges she is currently facing before the court. Surprisingly, Williams told reporters that he is not aware of the details of the operation. ComPol Williams also said that he received a call from Grant on Tuesday night in which she detailed the damage done to her property during the raid. According to the Commissioner of Police, he told her to file a complaint with the Professional Standards Branch if she feels that her constitutional rights were violated in the process.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I am not aware of it. I know that Doris Grant had messaged me last night making a complaint and I told her to go to PSB to lodge a complaint there.”

Reporter

“Is there a parallel police investigation happening here? The vibes I am getting around this case is that things are happening deliberately over your head.”

Chester Williams

“I am not aware of that, no.”

Reporter

“But if police officers were there, supposedly seven trucks, she says, without your knowledge.”

Chester Williams

“I don’t need to be aware of every police operation. You always conveniently get it wrong. Understand the meaning of micromanager, micromanager is a person who always tells his people what to do and how to do it. I don’t do that. My commanders will tell you I give them the latitude to do what needs to be done but when things go wrong it is my duty as the head to step in and correct them. that is not micromanaging, it is holding people accountable for when things go wrong. You would be the same one to say, when things go wrong, that as commissioner I ought to have known. So please just stop it and let us be real.”

Raid At Doris Grant Home Is Likely Connected to Missing Millions

ComPol Williams also told reporters that while allegations of acquiring property by deception have been brought against Grant in the past, she has never been convicted of any wrongdoing. And, from all indications, Grant seems to be the subject of an ongoing police investigation involving a great deal of missing money. Notwithstanding the raid and damages done to Grants property, News Five understand that nothing incriminating was found.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Many a times operations are done across the country, and I do not know about it. I have said to my commanders if you need to do an operation just do it and let me know the result of it. I cannot keep track of every operation the police conduct. I will go mad. I have not had a chance to speak with those police officers who went on that operation, like I said I was texted last night by Doris Grant and I told her to go to PSB if she believes that what the officers did at her place was a violation of her rights then she can go to P.S.B.”

Reporter

“How well do you know Ms Grant?”

Chester Williams

“Everybody knows Ms Grant Isani.”

Reporter

“Was she on your raider before for this type of activity, we have heard before that some Mennonites have also complaint against her.”

Chester Williams

“I am not aware of that, but yes Doris Grant has always been on our raider.”

Reporter

“For what kind of crimes sir or allegations?”

Chester Williams

“Well for the most part, I don’t want to go into details because I will end up defaming people, but yes she has been on our raider.”

Reporter

“In 2021 she was charged in Orange Walk for obtaining.”

Chester Williams

“She has never been convicted.”

Reporter

“There is a lot of weird energy, and these are the people accusing her of improperly acquiring millions of dollars, but there is this weird law enforcement energy around it with some very high-level operational teams intervening in her properties, what are you looking for?”

Chester Williams

“You just said there are allegations of millions of dollars going missing and you still ask what the police are looking for. If the police are involved in carrying out an investigation the police will go to the home of anybody who is a part of that investigation. So if the police go to the Mennonites or Ms. Grant it is a part of the ongoing investigation process.”

Reporter

”Have you heard of any complaints before against her and ordered that the police pursue her to the fullest extent of the law.”

Chester Williams

“There have been complaints against Ms. Grant where the police are currently involved investigating. The police job is to investigate, gather evidence and put the perpetrator before the court once we have evidence.”

Man Shot During Attempted Robbery in Cayo

A man was shot during an attempted robbery in Cayo today. The incident happened this morning in San Ignacio and the victim was shot to the left shoulder, as Commissioner Williams shared. Williams says the police are investigating and reviewing several video recordings to nail the culprit.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“This morning police responded to an attempted robbery in the San Ignacio area. Upon arrival they met an East Indian descent person with a gunshot injury to the left shoulder. The injury was not classified as life-threatening. Police are in the process of viewing a number of surveillance footages to ascertain exactly what happened and are pursuing two suspects at this time.”

Police Detain Several Persons Regarding Cayo Murder

Investigators in San Ignacio still have little information to go on relating to the murder of Jose Mejia. Mejia’s decomposing body was discovered early Tuesday morning in the Victor Galvez football stadium. He had been stabbed multiple times to his neck and chest. Police have detained several persons and are asking the public to come forth with relevant information to solve the case.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The police found the body yesterday in a preliminary stage of decomposition. There is not much information forthcoming, so I want to appeal to the public: anyone who may have any information pertinent to this investigation, please feel free to call the police, 911 or call the A-TIPS number, 922 and provide the information and we see where we go from there.”

Reporter

“You do have suspects detained though?”

Chester Williams

“At this time, yes, I know police are interviewing a number of persons but we cannot say at this time that there is credible information to indicate that they may be involved.”

B.P.M. Takes Redistricting Case to Court, Again

The Belize Peace Movement, represented by attorney Arthur Saldivar, is asking the High Court to have the Elections and Boundaries Commission expedite the redistricting exercise. A virtual hearing was held this morning where the matter was heard before Justice Nadine Nabie [Nah-bih]. During the session, Saldivar argued that the commission is yet to fulfill its obligations under the 2022 Redistricting Consent Order. He contended that to date only one redistricting proposal has been submitted and that the single proposal does not satisfy the commission’s responsibility under the court order because it has been deemed unconstitutional.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney-at-Law

“The primary ask is that the consent order be enforced and in so far as the proposal, so called, that was laid does not confirm with section ninety is the position of claimants that the consent order was not complied with. So, the ask is that section ninety be complied with in a subsequent report proposal so that parliament is not hamstrung in carrying out its responsibilities to debate a new law that would then form a new schedule for the ROPA. The schedule to the ROPA basically lays out the number of divisions and the number of electors in those divisions so it stands as an illustration of the malapportionment that exists. Where that schedules are to be used for subsequent elections, where it is clear to the court that the malapportionment renders it undemocratic and the constitution states that we area democracy it is incumbent on the court in its inherent jurisdiction to make a determination. What the other side was arguing was that somehow looking after the interest of the voters to ensure that each vote has equal weight, and they have the protection of the law that the constitution guarantees is equated to an action involving how members are elected to parliament. No this is not about that. This is about equal representation and equal protection of the law and by virtue of what exist in the ROPA, that is not possible.”

Has E&B Commission Fulfilled Obligations Under Redistricting Consent Order?

The defense represented by Assistant Solicitor General, Samantha Matute, argued that the Elections and Boundaries Commission has fulfilled its obligations under the 2022 Redistricting Consent Order. Matute contended that the commission filed recommendations and proposals to the National Assembly within the time they agreed to in the consent order. Here is how Saldivar responded.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney-At-Law

“There is one way of making sure. We understand they may feel that is the case so where the CPR says both parties must deal with cases justly, by virtue of the fact that elections and boundaries is a functionary of the executive, you look at the schedule and deal with the schedule and that will provide the impetus for parliament to do what it can do and if it cannot do anything with that then they need to go back. Parliamentarian who already made public their assessment of it, and as you have heard, Mr. Hyde, Mr. Espat, Briceno, they have all pronounced on it. Parliament seems to have no interest in moving it forward because they themselves already appreciate that it is not worthy of consideration so they are content to keep us in a holding pattern which will create a constitutional crisis going forward. So at this point the cat has to be belled and belling the cat in this case is within the purview and authority of the court.”

Saldivar stressed the urgency of the matter to the court. A determination will be made at a later date.