Ladyville Man Charged in Flashlight Theft Granted Bail

Twenty-eight-year-old Freddy Alberto Vasquez, a construction worker of Mile 13, Ladyville, Belize District, is facing a charge of theft after allegedly stealing a $150 Stanley rechargeable flashlight from vehicle owner James Donaldon.  Vasquez appeared unrepresented this morning before a Senior Magistrate where he was read a single charge of theft relating to the November 19 incident in the Lake Garden area.  In court, Vasquez inquired about the possible consequences of pleading guilty to the offense and initially indicated he intended to enter a guilty plea. However, he went on to state that he had told police he only borrowed the flashlight and further claimed that while he was detained with the flashlight in his possession, he was unsure of its current whereabouts as it was left with police. Because of these statements, which conflicted with a guilty plea, the magistrate rejected the plea.  Vasquez also admitted that part of his motivation for pleading guilty was that he had no one to post bail for him. The magistrate explained that a guilty plea cannot be accepted solely due to a defendant’s inability to secure bail, as doing so would amount to an injustice.  Vasquez, a father of two, including a three-month-old infant and a four-year-old son, was subsequently granted bail in the sum of $2,000 with one surety of the same amount, which he met later this afternoon. His next court appearance is set for January 21, 2026.