Tonight, a twenty-one-year-old man from Belize City is behind bars at the Belize Central Prison, following a disturbing allegation that has shocked the Saint Martin de Porres community. Antwan Petillo, a bodyworks technician of Jasmine Street, was arraigned this morning on a single charge of rape. The charge stems from an incident that allegedly took place early Saturday morning, when a woman claimed that she was forced to have sex inside a parked car near Newtown Barracks after leaving a nightclub. Petillo appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Ludlow Black and was denied bail due to the seriousness of the offense. He’s been remanded until September second, as police continue their investigation.
Now to a deeply disturbing story out of Belize City, what started as a night of fun and laughter ended in horror for one woman. She had been out with friends at the popular Shisha 8 on Saturday night when someone she knew, an acquaintance, approached her and asked to go for a walk. But what happened next took a dark turn. After leaving the club and getting into a vehicle with the man, she was allegedly raped. It’s a chilling reminder of how quickly trust can be shattered. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero has more on the investigation.
ACP Hilberto Romero, Head of Crime Investigation Branch
“On Saturday, the fifteenth of July, 2025, a female reported that she was at Shisha Bar. When she was taken by a male person who offered her a ride, she alleges that the person took her in a vehicle and had sex with her against her will. An investigation is being carried out at this time. So far no one has been charged, but the investigation continues.”
Forty-nine-year-old Ervin Middleton has learned his fate after being convicted earlier this year for the rape of a thirteen-year-old girl. His sentence? Seventeen years, ten months, and twenty-seven days behind bars. Justice Nigel Pilgrim handed down the sentence today, calling Middleton a predator who abused trust and inflicted deep psychological harm on his young victim. The court heard that Middleton, more than thirty years older than the child, waited until she was alone before attacking her, an act the judge described as premeditated and deeply disturbing. The victim, now eighteen, bravely testified in court, recounting how her life was upended, not just by the assault, but by the emotional fallout, including being separated from her siblings and struggling academically. Her words painted a heartbreaking picture of trauma and isolation. Justice Pilgrim made it clear: the court has a duty to protect children and send a strong message, those who exploit positions of trust to harm minors will face serious consequences. Middleton’s sentence was increased due to aggravating factors, including his prior convictions and lack of remorse. He will also undergo mandatory counseling and psychiatric treatment while incarcerated. This case, dating back to 2020, has now reached its legal conclusion, but the impact on the victim, and the message to society will resonate far beyond the courtroom.
A man with a troubling history of sex offenses is back behind bars after being accused of a violent home invasion on Belize City’s southside. Thirty-one-year-old Leon Darrell Lamb is accused of breaking into a home, assaulting two elderly grandparents, and attempting to rape their eleven-year-old granddaughter. He was caught during the attack but not before allegedly injuring all three victims. Lamb appeared in court yesterday, but his arraignment was delayed to clarify his previous bail conditions. This morning, he pleaded not guilty to four charges, including burglary with intent to rape, and wounding. The prosecutor strongly objected to bail, pointing out that Lamb is already facing two other sex-related cases: one in the High Court and another in the Magistrate’s Court. He was previously granted bail under strict conditions, including a nightly curfew and mandatory police check-ins, which he reportedly violated. The court also heard that Lamb has six prior sex-related charges and one conviction. The prosecutor argued that he poses a serious threat to public safety and could reoffend if released. Lamb told the court the charges are just allegations and asked for leniency, saying he had only been out of prison for two months and was trying to rebuild his life. But the Chief Magistrate wasn’t convinced. She denied bail, citing his failure to follow previous conditions and the serious nature of the new charges. Lamb was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until October thirty-first, 2025. He can still apply for bail through the High Court.
A terrifying break-in on the south side of Belize City has left a family shaken and police preparing to lay serious charges. Just after four a.m. on Saturday, a man allegedly broke into a home with the reported intent to assault an eleven-year-old girl. According to police, the suspect was confronted by a woman in the house after she was awakened by a commotion. What happened next was even more disturbing, he reportedly attacked her and her husband, knocking them both unconscious. Thankfully, a male relative living downstairs heard the noise and rushed in, forcing the intruder to flee.
Stacy Smith
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
“Police are preparing to prefer charges against an unemployed Belizean in connection with a burglary that occurred at approximately four o’clock a.m. on Saturday, June 28th, 2025. This male person is alleged to have entered a residence located on the south side of Belize City with the apparent intention to rape an eleven-year-old female minor therein. One of the occupants stated that she was awaken by a commotion and, upon inquiring, she saw a male person in her residence who proceeded to assault her and her husband, rendering them both unconscious. A male relative who resides on the lower flat of that residence was also alerted by the commotion and intervened, causing the male person to run off.”
Reporter
“The intruder, as we understand it, was already or had already made himself naked in front of the child. Had this person also disrobed the child?”
Stacy Smith
“The investigation is ongoing and information will be disclosed when it becomes necessary to be disclosed.”
Reporter
“So, because of the nature of these things, it’s a burglary because of how crime is classified. Was there any indication of how the person entered the home? Was there any familiarity with the family? Are there any known suspects?”
Stacy Smith
“The suspect has been detained. He is currently in police custody and the suspect is one that is known to police for incidents of this nature. As a matter of fact, as recent as last year, he was convicted in the magistrate’s court by prosecutor, Sergeant Smith and was sentenced to eleven months in prison. I was advised that he had been released in May, so the person in detention is expected to be charged later today.”
A disturbing case out of Corozal tonight, police have arrested and charged a man accused of a horrifying betrayal of trust. The stepfather, whose identity is being withheld to protect the victim, now faces four counts of rape after allegations surfaced involving his own stepdaughter. Authorities say he’s been remanded to the Belize Central Prison as the investigation continues.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
“As it relates to the report which was made by the twelve-year-old female minor that was made on the twenty-ninth of May, 2025 in Corozal, police have formally arrested and charged a thirty-nine-year-old male for four counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The male person was subsequently arraigned before the Corozal Magistrates Court and remanded to the Belize Central Prison.”
A troubling case is unfolding in the capital, where a fourteen-year-old student has been taken into custody and charged with unlawful carnal knowledge. The teen is currently being held at the New Beginnings Youth Development Center. The charge stems from an incident reported last week at Belmopan Comprehensive High School. According to police, a thirteen-year-old female student came forward, alleging that the fourteen-year-old had sexual intercourse with her against her will while on the school compound. Authorities say they are taking the matter seriously and have launched a full investigation. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith provided further details on the case, which remains under active review.
Stacy Smith
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
“On Thursday twenty-nineth May 2025, police formally arrested and charged a fourteen-year-old male minor of Belmopan City for the crime of unlawful carnal knowledge. This arrest came as a consequence of a report being made by a thirteen-year-old female minor that on the twenty-eight of May while on her school compound in Belmopan City the male minor had sexual intercourse with her against her will. The make minor was arraigned before the Belmopan Magistrate Court where he was remanded to new beginning facility.”
Prominent attorney Orson “OJ” Elrington appeared in court this morning, where he was formally indicted on a charge of rape. The hearing took place at nine a.m. before Justice Nigel Pilgrim, in a courtroom filled with tension. Elrington, who turns forty-four tomorrow, was represented by his father, Senior Counsel Hubert Elrington. Before the arraignment, Justice Pilgrim carefully explained the attorney’s rights, including his right to legal representation, the option to apply for bail, and the implications of entering a plea. Elrington pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stems from an alleged incident on January twelfth, 2024, involving a woman in her mid-twenties. The judge emphasized that any guilty plea must be made only if the defendant is truly guilty and reminded the court that statements made during the hearing cannot be used against the accused. Both the prosecution and defense have been ordered to submit their Case Management Conference forms by June twenty-seventh, with the conference set to begin on July first. Elrington’s bail, originally granted by the Lower Court in 2024, has been extended until then. Representing the Crown in this high-profile case is Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl Lynn-Vidal.
A serious incident at Belmopan Comprehensive High School has left the community shaken. On Wednesday, while teachers across the country were participating in a national sickout, students at the school were sent home early. But not everyone left campus. According to reports, a female student later returned to the school and told the vice principal and school medic that she was bleeding. At first, staff believed it was a menstrual issue and sent her to the hospital to be safe. But soon after, a family member contacted the school with a disturbing claim: the girl had been raped. Police have launched an investigation. Sources say both the alleged victim and the accused are first-form students, meaning they are both minors. Officers were seen on campus taking statements from students who may have witnessed or known about the incident. The school’s principal declined to comment, saying only that they would respond when possible. Meanwhile, the public is expressing growing concern about student safety, especially during times when schools are understaffed or unsupervised. Under Belizean law, if both individuals involved in a sexual offense are minors, the accused could face up to five years in prison. This case is still developing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Earlier today, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) issued a statement addressing the allegations against the union leader. The organization emphasized its zero-tolerance policy for all forms of sexual violence, abuse, or misconduct. They stressed that these accusations are serious and require the utmost seriousness, empathy for both the alleged victim and the accused, and a strong commitment to justice. The NTUCB firmly supports due process and the principles of fair and impartial justice, stating that everyone is entitled to a fair investigation and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law. This evening, we also asked the President of the Public Service Union to share his thoughts on the allegations against his union colleague.
Dean Flowers
Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union
“That matter continues under investigation and I don’t think that it would be proper for me to comment on it considering that the allegations are currently being looked into by, I’m quite sure, the union in question, as well as by the wider umbrella organization. But considering your question on the matter, I want to make it abundantly clear that the union movement, and I believe I speak on behalf of every true trade unionist, we do not condone any such acts or behavior. I think that where the PSU is concerned, we would be the first to condemn any act of violence, in any shape or form, against women. We don’t tolerate that. However, it is also important that we recognize that the justice system presumes all individuals innocent and they must be proven guilty and you cannot pronounce somebody to be guilty simply based on the allegations of another person. We need to listen to those allegations, do the investigative work and, as I am doing today, condemn such actions or acts by men, or women, against the opposite sex.”
