Elderly Man Fined for Drug Pipe Possession in Taylor’s Alley Patrol Bust

Tonight, 69-year-old Phillip McDonald, a resident of Belize City is in debt to the court in the sum of $205.00 after picking up his first conviction for a drug related offense. McDonald who was unrepresented appeared before a Magistrate in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court, who wasted no time pleading guilty to possession of utensil used for smoking of a control drug. 

For his guilty plea, being a first-time offender, the magistrate imposed a non-custodial sentence of a fine of $200 including a $5.00 court cost. McDonald was given until December 15, 2025, to pay, or in default, one month imprisonment. 

An official police report indicates that on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., police were on patrol through Taylor’s Alley when their attention was drawn to a man sitting on a sofa in the back of a yard.

According to police they noticed a shiny object three feet away from McDonald. After their investigation, the shiny object turned out to be a silver metal pipe measuring four inches in length, suspected to be used for smoking a control drugs.

McDonald was informed of the offense committed and escorted to the police station where he was charged with possession of utensil.