Mother Pays Partial Fines as Son Remains Jailed Over Outstanding Court Debts

After spending 16 days in jail, 42-year-old Kevin Michael Jex remained in custody today despite his mother, 60-year-old Mary Diana Jex, appearing in court, attempting to pay outstanding court fines in hopes of securing his release.  Jex told reporters that she was only able to pay $30, the amount she could afford, out of her son’s total outstanding fine bill of $400. She said her son had been jailed after being unable to clear the outstanding payments linked to older court matters, adding that she hopes the partial payment may result in his release later today.  Jex had most recently appeared unrepresented before a magistrate in Court on Tuesday, November 18, where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of public drinking. He was accused of consuming an alcoholic beverage, specifically a Belikin beer, on North Front Street on Sunday, November 16.  Following his plea, Jex requested self-bail, stating that he had no one to bail him. The court denied the request, explaining that self-bail is only granted under special circumstances, which Jex was unable to demonstrate. He was subsequently offered bail in the sum of $400 plus one surety of the same amount.  However, police confirmed that Jex could not post bail because he was also required to first settle outstanding fines dating back to 2013, and as a result, he was remanded to the Belize Central Prison. His mother claims that since his return to the prison, her son has been placed “in the hole,” the facility’s disciplinary confinement area.  Jex is a former convicted murderer, having been found guilty in the killing of Desmond Miller, a security guard at the San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi Terminal, following a trial in July 2019.  Court records show that in November 2013, Miller had instructed Jex to leave the terminal after complaints that he was harassing tourists. Jex later claimed that the security guard threatened to use his baton against him, prompting Jex to retrieve a piece of wood from nearby bushes. He admitted to striking Miller on the back of the head and continuing the assault until bystanders intervened. Miller fell into a coma and died several days later from his injuries.