Caye Caulker Worker Remanded on Burglary and Drug Charges

A Caye Caulker construction worker is tonight on remand after being charged with a string of offences, including burglary, aggravated assault, and drug possession.  Forty-one-year-old Jerome Jermaine Jorgenson appeared unrepresented before a Magistrate in Belize City, where he was read a total of five charges stemming from an incident earlier this month on the island. Police allege that on April 24, Jorgenson entered the home of Louie Anthony Mejia as a trespasser and stole several items, including an airport case, a kitchen knife, and a power bank, with a combined value of two hundred and eighty dollars. It is further alleged that while armed with a knife, he committed an aggravated assault against Mejia.  Authorities also report that Jorgenson was found in possession of point four grams of crack cocaine at Sunrise Scuba Tours on Avenida Caye Caulker. In a separate offence, he was allegedly found with a six-and-a-half-inch kitchen knife in his possession at around 3:30 a.m.  During his arraignment, Jorgenson initially pleaded guilty to all charges. However, he later clarified that while he admitted to possession of the crack cocaine, he had no knowledge of the burglary and disputed the other allegations. As a result, the Magistrate accepted his guilty plea for the drug charge only and rejected the pleas for the remaining offences.  He was fined two hundred and seventy dollars, plus a five-dollar court cost, for the drug offence, with a deadline of June 30.  Despite strong objections from the prosecution, who cited concerns about potential interference with the complainant and the existence of video evidence, the court granted Jorgenson bail in the sum of two thousand dollars with one surety.  However, unable to meet bail, Jorgenson has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison.  As part of his bail conditions, he is not to return to Caye Caulker, must report weekly to the Mahogany Street Police Station, stay at least one hundred yards away from the virtual complainant, and avoid contact with any prosecution witnesses.  His next court appearance is scheduled for June 26 in the San Pedro Magistrate’s Court.