Jason Cortez Charged for Aggravated Burglary

Jason Cortez

After more than a month of intensive investigating and various visits to a catamaran that was robbed and burglarized on Middle Caye back in mid January of this year, police have lifted finger prints that link two Belize City men to the crime. Bradwick Lino and Jason Emmanuel Cortez were jointly charged for handling stolen goods. Lino pleaded guilty and is already behind bars, but today his partner in crime, Cortez was arraigned before Senior Magistrate, Sharon Fraser for another charge of aggravated burglary.  Allegations are that on January thirteenth, 2016, at Middle Long Caye, Cruz and Lino, stole a long list of items from a catamaran belonging to Lela and John Picard. The duo is also accused of stealing items belonging to Christy Williams and John Horton. Bail was denied to Cortez because the burglary was committed with a firearm and he was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until March eighteenth, 2016 when Lino is also due back in court. Lino was sentenced on January nineteenth to three months imprisonment for items found at Cortez home during the search. Cortez’ mother, Florita Pineda, was also charged with handling stolen goods and is out on bail.