Man Pleads Not Guilty to Sexually Assaulting 8-Year-Old Girl

A 35-year-old Dangriga man, Antonio Alvarez, appeared in court today charged with sexual assault. Alvarez, a resident of Jane Usher Boulevard who claims employment with the Leadership Intervention Unit, pleaded not guilty after initially attempting to plead guilty. Alvarez was charged with intentionally and unlawfully touching the buttocks of an 8-year-old female minor on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, without her consent. The court heard that the child’s mother reported the incident to police after her daughter told her a friend had touched her. When asked if he accepted the police facts, Alvarez stated he was “smoking” when approached by the mother and was “not aware of what the child is saying.” Due to his disagreement with the facts, the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Alvarez was granted $1,500 bail with conditions: he must not go near the victim or her mother, stay 100 feet away from them, and report to Racoon Street Police Station every Friday, starting July 25. His next court date is September 18.