BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Aug. 23, 2012

Venustiano Pacheco, 66, a Mexican charged with aggravated assault of an indecent nature on a female child 8 years old, was sentenced to 3 years yesterday by the Chief Magistrate, Ann Marie Smith, after he was found guilty of the charge.

The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on February 25, 2011, at Scotland Halfmoon Village.

The child, a standard I student, testified in camera. She said she was taking a bath outdoor behind her house when Pacheco came and knelt in front of her and sexually assaulted her.

The child’s aunt testified that she saw Pacheco doing the dirty act on her niece. She said she was speaking with Pacheco downstairs in her house and she left him there and went upstairs.

She said that while she was upstairs, she opened a window at the back of the house and when she turned on the spotlight, she saw Pacheco, who she has known for 10 years, kneeling in front of her niece and performing cunnilingus on her.

She said she hollered at Pacheco, and he left.

Pacheco testified. He did not contest what the child said, but claimed that what the aunt said was a lie and that the aunt had made up the story.

Pacheco was not represented by an attorney.

Inspector Carol Tucker represented the prosecution.