Barkley Allen Arraigned for Arson, A Psychiatric Evaluation is Ordered

Barkley Allen Jr.

Twenty-seven-year-old Barkley Allen Junior, a resident of Orange Walk Town who is believed to be mentally challenged, appeared in the magistrate’s court in Belize City today where he was arraigned for arson, harm, and breach of a protection order.  Allen is accused of burning down his grandmother’s residence in Orange Walk on February sixteenth.  The property belonging to Bernadette Allen was a mobile trailer home.  It is further alleged that Allen breached a protection order that was issued against him on December fifth, 2022.  Since no plea was taken from him, Allen was read three charges and was subsequently asked by Senior Magistrate Baja Shoman whether he understood them.  The prosecutor then requested that the court order a psychiatric evaluation to be conducted on Allen.  For the time being, he has been denied bail and is on remand at the Belize Central Prison pending the outcome of the evaluation.