A Tourist is Convicted while on Vacation in Belize

Brian Keith Gibbs

A visitor on Carnival Cruise Lines from Yonkers, New York was convicted while on vacation with his family in Belize. Thirty-nine year old Brian Keith Gibbs assaulted a police officer during a misunderstanding at Terminal One at the Fort Street Tourism Village. This afternoon at two, Gibbs was escorted to the Belize City Magistrate’s Court to be arraigned on a single charge of assaulting special Constable, Alford Castillo.  Initially, Gibbs pleaded guilty but was not sure if he would end up in jail so he asked what he was facing with a guilty plea. Senior Magistrate, Tricia Pitts-Anderson explained that she could not guarantee him fine verses a prison term, but that there are factors she must take into consideration in passing her sentence. Gibbs is accused of behaving disorderly and pushing the police officer. Gibbs told Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitts-Anderson that he has respect for the law and that he works as a security guard back home and was caught in a heated moment and things escalated. He also begged the court for leniency. Senior Magistrate, Pitts-Anderson then imposed a non-custodial sentence taking into consideration that he is a first time offender who showed remorse for his action. Gibbs was fined five hundred dollars and was taken to an A.T.M. where he withdrew the cash to pay the fine. Trouble was that he does not know when he can get back on the cruise line so he was advised to visit the U.S. Embassy to make arrangements to be reunited with his family.