Cop Arrested and Charged for Theft

Dean Perez Jr.

Police Constable Dean Perez Junior was found guilty of theft and is on remand at the Belize Central Prison until next week Monday when the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith will sentence him for crime. Perez has been on interdiction since last year had has nine years of service under his belt. His attorney Leroy Banner has given notice that he intends to appeal the conviction for the theft of cash and a cell phone from Jose Hernandez and his wife Esmeralda Pat at their house in San Pedro on October fifth. The incident happened around five in the morning when he went to the Hernandez house, took a cellular phone and an identification folder with six hundred dollars in cash. In court, Hernandez testified that he saw Perez grab the folder when he was being taken into custody from his apartment. Perez, however, said that he was being wrongly accused by his commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police Henry Jemmott, who he alleges has a personal vendetta against him. In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Smith said that although there were discrepancies they did not affect the crux of the Crown’s case and she believed the evidence of Hernandez. As we said, Perez will be sentenced on Monday.