3 Years in Jail after G.S.U. Sweep Nets 13 Pounds of Weed for Elsworth Morter

Elsworth Morter

Thirty-nine-year-old Elsworth Morter is spending a second night at the Belize Central Prison after being sentenced to three years for drug trafficking.  A GSU raid on his Oleander Street residence on Monday night yielded over thirteen pounds of cannabis.  At the time of the sweep, seven others, including six adults and a minor, were inside the house.  They appeared before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith where they were arraigned on drug-related charges.  Morter was initially read a single charge of possession after being found with forty-two grams of weed.  He pleaded guilty to the charge, before taking the wrap for three hundred and twenty-three grams found at the residence.  The Chief Magistrate imposed a mandatory ten thousand dollar fine for drug trafficking.  Morter was ordered to pay two thousand dollars forthwith and the balance by the end of December or, in default, three years in prison.  The group was later read another charge for possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.  Again, Morter owned up to the quantity despite being cautioned that another conviction for drug trafficking would result in confinement.  After also pleading guilty to that charge, he was fined ten thousand dollars which he was ordered to pay immediately.  The unemployed resident of Oleander Street was unable to meet the payment and was sentenced to three years in jail.