Belize City Man Fined After Admitting To Damaging Wife’s Window

A Belize City construction worker has been fined after pleading guilty to damaging a window at a house his wife was renting.  41-year-old, Carlos Alvarez of Douglas Jones Street, appeared before a Senior Magistrate this afternoon, where he was read a single charge of damage to property.  The charge stemmed from an incident reported by his wife, Irma Gutierrez, who told police that Vasquez damaged a white hurricane window at the residence.  In court, Vasquez pleaded guilty to the offence and apologized, telling the magistrate he was willing to repay his wife for the damage caused.  The magistrate subsequently fined Vasquez $300 plus a $5 cost of court, which he must pay by May 29. If he defaults on payment, he will serve three months in prison.  While Vasquez indicated his willingness to compensate his wife, no compensation order was made by the court.  According to police reports, the incident occurred on Friday, February 27, at a residence on Douglas Jones Street in Belize City.  Gutierrez, a 42-year-old Guatemalan national who is self-employed, reported the matter to the Gender-Based Violence Responsive and Investigative Unit on March 2.  She told police that on the day of the incident she had travelled to Ladyville and left her home locked and secured.  However, around 6:50 p.m., while still in Ladyville, she received a voice message from a neighbour informing her that her husband was attempting to enter the house and had damaged one of the window louvers.  When she returned home later that night, she observed that the hurricane window had been broken.  Gutierrez reported that the window was valued at $300, and that she spent $100 in labour costs to have it repaired.  Following her report, police detained Vasquez, and the matter was brought before the court where he ultimately admitted to the offence.