U.S. citizen charged with arson

Another U.S. citizen is in trouble with Belizean law enforcement tonight. Thirty-eight year old Mauricio Barraza is accused of torching his apartment, located at number three Mohammed Street. Barraza appeared in court today, but because arson is an indictable offence, no plea was taken. He was offered but did not meet bail of five thousand dollars and the case was adjourned until February eighth. On December fifteenth, Clarence Pandy reported to police that around sixty-thirty that morning his common-law wife called him, saying that a tenant had set fire to one of his apartments. When Pandy arrived, he found fire damage to the unit which Barraza was renting. He called the police, who arrested the American and charged him with Arson.