Father of Two Sentenced to Seven Years for Sexual Offences Against Minor

Twenty-five-year-old Kenroy Lanza, a father of two, has been sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment after being convicted on three counts of Unlawful Sexual Intercourse involving an eleven-year-old boy. Lanza was sentenced late this evening in the High Court by Justice Candace Nanton. The court heard that the offenses occurred on three separate occasions between February 14, 2020 and April 6, 2020.  Lanza had previously been acquitted of rape of a child but was found guilty on December 18, 2025, of the lesser and alternative charges of unlawful sexual intercourse. During today’s mitigation hearing, his mother and a former employer gave character references on his behalf. He was represented by Attorney Abibi Moguel of Lynden & Associates.  In handing down the sentence, Justice Nanton emphasized the serious trauma sexual offences cause to victims. She set a starting point of eight years and carefully weighed both aggravating and mitigating factors.  Among the aggravating factors, the judge noted that the victim was only eleven years old, the prevalence of the offence, and that the acts occurred in the presence of another minor.  Mitigating considerations included that no physical violence was committed, although the court noted threats were made to the child. The judge also observed that Lanza showed no remorse and continues to maintain his innocence, claiming the allegations were fabricated.  After adjustments, the court initially arrived at five years but increased the sentence by two years, ruling that a five-year term did not adequately reflect the gravity of the offence. This resulted in a seven-year sentence.

The court further credited Lanza for one year spent in pre-trial custody, leaving him with six years remaining to serve. The sentence is effective from December 18, 2025, the date of conviction.  The prosecution was led by Crown Counsel Joseph Perez. The trial lasted less than one week, with the minor giving evidence in camera.  Lanza tonight begins serving his sentence at the Belize Central Prison.