Repeat Offender Chester Noralez on Remand

Chester Noralez

Tonight alleged repeat offender, Chester Noralez, is on remand for snatching a chain from a friend in Belize City.  Noralez is the Belize City resident who is accused of beating ninety-four year old Patrick Grant to a bloody pulp in a home invasion in December of last year. But this morning, Noralez appeared before Magistrate Deborah Rogers and was arraigned for theft. The incident is said to have happened this past Tuesday when he stole a chain and two medals with a value of one thousand seven hundred dollars from France Usher.   At his arraignment, Noralez wanted to know what the odds of going to jail are if he was to plead guilty and he also asked Magistrate Rogers about a possibility that he may be fined if he took the guilty plea. He claims he was having drinks with Usher when a vehicle drove up. He said at the same time, he touched Noralez in the chest area and since it appeared the chain was dry rotten, it fell into his hands. He then got into the vehicle and left the area. After that statement, he pleaded not guilty, but there were objections to bail due to the prevalence of the crime and because Noralez has a pending charge of aggravated burglary against Grant.  Bail was denied and Noralez was placed into custody.  Usher reported to police that while he was on Jasmine Street buying water, Noralez crept up on him and snatched his chain then fled.  Usher said he was able to see his attacker and he knows Noralez for twenty years. Noralez was captured and the chain found on him.