Photo: Virgil Perez, guilty of theft

by Roy Davis (freelance reporter)

BELIZE CITY, Tues. July 25, 2023

Virgil Perez, 41, a former police constable who was convicted of theft, was given a suspended sentence of 3 years today by Justice Ricardo Sandcroft.

Perez was also fined $15,000 and he was ordered to pay $5,000 in compensation to Brucewell Michael Reid, the owner of the Hilux vehicle which was stolen while it was parked at Belize Diesel Equipment Limited, located at Mile 1 on the Philip Goldson Highway. The incident occurred on February 26, 2012. The Hilux has a value of $55,000, and it was damaged in the process.

Perez has to pay $5,000 of the fine by tomorrow, July 26, and the balance within a period of 12 months. He has 10 months to pay the compensation.

In determining the sentence, Justice Sandcroft said he looked at the aggravating factors and the mitigating factors and the fact that it was Perez’s first offence. Justice Sandcroft also said that Perez was not beyond redemption and that he can be rehabilitated.

The trial began on February 8 before Justice Sandcroft. Police witnesses testified that on the night of the incident, officers attached to the Belmopan formation stopped the Hilux pickup truck. It was being driven by Perez with another police officer sitting in the passenger seat beside him. The vehicle was searched, but the search did not yield anything incriminating. However, during the search it was found that the rear window was broken and glass was scattered on the floor.

Perez and his passenger, along with the vehicle, were taken to the Belmopan Police Station, where the vehicle was impounded and Perez was taken into custody and later charged.

On February 26, 2023, a jury of 4 women and 5 men deliberated for 4 hours and 21 minutes before they returned a unanimous verdict of guilty of theft.

Perez was represented by attorney Norman Rodriguez, while the Crown was represented by Crown Counsel Robert Lord.