Transgender woman, Vanessa Champagne, is charged and behind bars

Perfilio Rodriguez

Vanessa Paris Champagne is causing another quandary, but this time, she is behind bars. And it is because it is not clear if the transgender woman should be placed in the female or the male block of the Belize Central Prison. Champagne, who has been attacked more than once, was today before the court to answer to a single charge of aggravated assault with a knife upon Golda Orozco, the sister of UNIBAM Director, Caleb Orozco. This morning in court, she used her given name, Perfilio Rodriguez, on arraignment before Magistrate Herbert Panton for Aggravated Assault with a knife. But the session was interrupted by Champagne’s laughter and the Magistrate had to remind him that it was no laughing matter and that he could be sent to jail. Rodriguez pleaded not guilty, but the prosecutor expressed concerns that he would interfere with Orozco since they live in the same house. Magistrate Panton inquired from Rodriguez if he could live somewhere else, and he said that he could go to relatives in Independence. But Rodriguez told Magistrate Panton that he has a job with Caleb Orozco. The magistrate was not amused and ordered that Rodriguez be accompanied to pick up his personal belongings at Zericote Street and not to return there until the case is disposed of. While Rodriguez got bail, he could not get anyone to bail him for three hundred dollars and so he was taken to the prison and is due back in Court in late August.