City burglar was supposed to be in jail

On Friday, we reported on the arrest of two men for burglary after they were caught by police inside a Belize City house. One of the pair, Archibald Leslie, has pleaded not guilty and has been remanded until June twenty-seventh. The other, however, Eugene Ramirez, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight years in prison plus an additional two years for possession of a crack pipe. But that’s not the only reason Ramirez is in the news. The problem, it seems, is that while he was out looking for trouble, Ramirez should have been enjoying the comforts of Her Majesty’s hotel at Hattieville. According to court records, on May fourth of this year, less than three weeks ago, Ramirez was sentenced to five years in jail on a previous burglary charge, not to mention a two-month sentence for an “unlawful possession” charge on March eighth. So why was Ramirez out on the street instead of behind bars? That’s exactly what the court is now investigating. Meanwhile, we trust that Ramirez is watching tonight’s newscast from a jail cell and not someone’s living room.