Gilbert Goodger and Mark Waight Arraigned for Gun Possession

Gilbert Goodger and Mark Waight

Thirty-four-year-old Gilbert Goodger has been sentenced to two years in prison, while twenty-four-year-old Mark Waight is on remand at the Belize Central Prison. The pair was busted this morning while double riding on a bicycle near Victoria Street and Barrack Road. In their possession was a firearm loaded with five rounds of ammunition. Both men were arrested and charged and, despite Goodger attempting to take the rap for the weapon by pleading guilty, the charges were not withdrawn from Waight.  Earlier today, Goodger and Waight appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Dennison Mannan where they were jointly charged with one count of kept firearm without a gun license and kept ammunition without being granted a gun license by the Commissioner of Police. Character witnesses also spoke on behalf of both men, however, Magistrate Mannon made it clear that the offense is one that he could not impose a non-custodial sentence due to the existing crime situation. Goodger was sentenced to five years, but was reduced to two years based on his guilty plea.  Waight, on the other hand, was remanded into custody at the Belize Central Prison until March, 2023.  Mark Waight was acquitted of the murder of Amandala reporter Kareem Clark in June 2019.