18 yr. old gets 7 years for home invasion & armed robbery

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Feb. 23, 2011

Emmerson Reyes, 18, a laborer of Hattieville who was recently convicted of burglary and was sentenced to 5 years, was found guilty of aggravated burglary today in the #8 Magistrate’s Court and was sentenced to 7 years.

Magistrate Emmerson Banner, who imposed the sentence, stipulated that it should run concurrently to the sentence Reyes is serving.  That means Reyes will spend seven years in prison.

The aggravated burglary occurred around 12:20 p.m. on November 17, 2010 at the house of Hayton Lino, located in the Belizean American site in Hattieville.

Lino testified that he was at home cleaning up when he heard a knock on his door and someone calling out his name.  He said he recognized Reyes’ voice so he opened the door.  As he did that, another man, who was with Lino, pulled out a small black pistol resembling a .22 and pointed it at him.

Lino said Reyes and the other man forced themselves into his house and the gunman began to pistol whip him on his head and demand that he hands over money.  He then told them he did not have any money and Reyes went to his bedroom, searched it and found his wallet which contained $200US Currency.

The defendant said that apart from the money, the culprits stole three caps.  He testified that Reyes told the gunman to shoot him and kill him but the gunman refused.

Before they left, Reyes told him not to say anything to the police otherwise they will kill him, said Lino.

Reyes did not testify or give a statement from the dock.  He chose to remain silent.

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