Lords Bank Couple Granted Bail After Major Marijuana Bust

Monica Olga Bowden, 21, a Call center Agent and her common-law husband, 27-year-old, Andre Lewis Belisle an office assistant, both of Lord’s Bank Village appeared late yesterday evening before  Magistrate  Mannon Dennison in Court #6 where they were read charges of three counts of possession of a control drug with intent to supply, 1125, 365, and 730 grams of cannabis.

Bowden and Belisle represented in court by Attorney Ronell Gonzalez were jointly charged for three Counts of Possession of a Controlled Drug with the intent to supply to another, following a house search in rural Belize. The duo pleaded not guilty to the three counts of drug related offenses. An extreme emphasis on objection to bail was submitted by the Police Prosecutor citing Bowden and Belisle are both flight risks given the allegations of a large amount of money found inside their home. Another submission was that they may interfere with the Prosecution case whilst out on bail since the investigation is ongoing.

 Dennison was not convinced by the Prosecutor that they were flight risk, and or would interfere with witness therefore they were granted bail in the sum of $10,000 each plus two sureties of $5,000 each. Bowden and Belisle are to sign in weekly on Fridays at the Queen Street Police Station, they are not to leave the country without permission of the court and they are not to interfere with any prosecution witnesses. 

On Friday, October 3, police conducted a house search in Lord’s Bank Village where both Andre Lewis Belisle, and Monica Olga Bowden were living. During the search, police discovered the marijuana in three separate parcels along with a licensed black Glock pistol along with 100 rounds of ammunition and $27,065 BZD, all of which were sealed and labeled as exhibits.