Old SOE Violations Land Belize City Man in Jail for Three Years

Twenty-seven-year-old Calvin McKay is spending the next three years in prison after he was convicted for two curfew violations during the states of emergency in 2020 at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.  McKay appeared before the Chief Magistrate today on a pair of drug-related offenses, including one count of possession of an undetermined quantity of crack cocaine, as well as possession of a pipe.  While McKay pleaded not guilty to those charges and was granted bail, the Chief Magistrate was reminded of his previous convictions for which he was fined five thousand dollars and two thousand dollars, respectively.  Because the fines are old, McKay was ordered to pay them forthwith.  Unable to do so, he was made to serve three years behind bars in default of the payment.