Public Drinking Charge Dismissed in Belize City Court

Kevin Michael Jex is tonight a free man after the Chief Magistrate dismissed a charge of public drinking that had kept him entangled in the court system for months.  Jex had been accused by Police Constable Moody of publicly drinking from a Belikin beer bottle. However, when the matter came up for trial in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court, the unrepresented Jex maintained his not guilty plea. The case was subsequently struck out, and the Chief Magistrate told him he was free to go.  Speaking with Love News Court Reporter Anita Nembhard outside the courthouse, Jex said he felt relieved and vindicated by the outcome.

Jex had originally been arraigned on November 18, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge. He was granted bail in the sum of one hundred dollars, but because he owed outstanding court fines of thirty dollars and could not immediately pay, he was unable to post bail and was remanded to the Belize Central Prison.  According to Jex, he ultimately spent about three weeks behind bars before settling the fine and securing his release.  Jex has consistently maintained his innocence, claiming Officer Moody picked up a Belikin bottle and wrongly accused him of being the person publicly drinking, which led to his detention and charge.  The food vendor had indicated he intended to fight the matter on his own when the case was called for trial.  Jex is no stranger to the court system. He previously served time following a murder conviction in connection with the death of security guard Desmond Miller. In 2019 he was sentenced to life imprisonment, but the Court of Appeal later overturned that sentence and substituted it with an eleven-year term.  With the public drinking matter now dismissed, Jex says he is grateful to move forward.