Belize City Man Out on Bail After Burglary and Theft Charges

A Belize City man is out on bail tonight after being charged with crimes of dishonesty. Forty-year-old Joel Belgrave appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court charged with one count of burglary and one count of handling stolen goods. In court, he pleaded guilty to the handling stolen goods charge, but not guilty to burglary. He said that the person who actually stole the items gave them to him and he stashed them. He later took police to where the items were being kept. The prosecutor said that he wanted to accept the guilty plea but could not withdraw the burglary charge. Belgrave was granted bail in the sum of five thousand dollars and his next court date was set for August 26. He is accused of breaking into a house in Orange Walk and stealing electronics and other personal items to a value of over three thousand seven hundred dollars.