San Pedro cop charged with carnal knowledge

The sexual abuse of a child is always disturbing, but when the accused abuser is someone you’re supposed to trust, like a police officer, the act is downright tragic. According to reports, this morning in Belize City Magistrate’s Court, twenty-five year old police officer Wilbert Lanza, attached to the San Pedro formation, was formally arraigned on one charge of carnal knowledge. The charge stems from the testimony of a fourteen-year-old student who reported that around eight-thirty on Monday night, she went to take food to a friend’s house where she met Lanza and later had sexual intercourse with him. When she got home, the girl told her mother what happened and a doctor has since confirmed sexual activity. The matter has been referred to the Supreme Court for trial but tonight Lanza is out on a five thousand dollar bail. He is expected to be interdicted from duty with half-pay until the case is concluded.