O.W. teacher acquitted of rape charges

A teacher from the Orange Walk district has been acquitted of the rape of a twelve year old girl. In the Supreme Court today, a jury found thirty-five year old Antonio Aragon not guilty of the charges of rape and carnal knowledge of a former student in July 2004. The jury of six women and three men deliberated for two hours before returning with their verdict. During the trial, the girl accused the scout leader of taking her to an area off the Burrell Boom road and raping her. The stepmother of the girl testified that earlier that day, Aragon had approached her asking permission for the child to accompany him to Belize City to pick up a drum and she agreed. When the girl got home, however, she told her mother about the sexual assault. Aragon took the stand in his own defence, vehemently denying the child’s accusations.