Lords Bank Man Loses Appeal, Returns to Prison for Gun Offense

Joel Benito Choco, a 29-year-old resident of Lords Bank, saw his appeal against his sentence dismissed in the High Court yesterday. Justice Candace Nanton affirmed the lower court’s ruling, ordering Choco to return to prison to serve his remaining sentence.  Choco, who represented himself in the appeal, had argued that his three-year sentence for firearm possession was harsh and inconsistent with other sentences handed down in similar cases. He was convicted in February 2024 of kept firearm ammunition and aggravated assault, receiving three years for the gun charge, two years and six months for the ammunition, and one year for the assault, all to run concurrently.  Justice Nanton, in her ruling, noted that the offense of firearm possession carries a minimum mandatory sentence of five years. She highlighted that the Senior Magistrate in the lower court had actually sentenced Choco below the minimum mandatory term.  “It is this court’s view that Magistrates set out reasons for their sentences. However, this court found no error in the Learning Trial Magistrate’s approach to sentencing,” Justice Nanton stated. While she acknowledged that the Magistrate did not explicitly state her reasoning in Choco’s case, she concluded that this omission did not prejudice the sentencing.  Justice Nanton ultimately determined that Choco received a fair sentence and dismissed his appeal. She ordered no costs to Choco, but mandated his return to Belize Central Prison to complete his three-year term.  Choco was initially charged with four counts, including handling stolen goods for a stolen gun, but was acquitted of that charge during his trial in 2024. The prosecution, led by Sgt. Claude Pitts, presented testimony from PC Mauricio Cobb and PC Hamid Reyes, who detailed Choco’s arrest.  The officers testified that they responded to a report of a man with a gun on a bus exiting Lords Bank. Upon arrival, they saw Choco fleeing the bus and gave chase. PC Reyes witnessed Choco pointing the gun at PC Cobb. PC Cobb then drew his service weapon and ordered Choco to stop. When Choco refused, PC Cobb fired a warning shot. Choco continued to flee, jumping over a fence, but was eventually apprehended.  Choco was unrepresented during his 2024 trial. He initially appealed both his conviction and sentence, but later withdrew the appeal against the conviction, focusing solely on the sentence. Having served one year and one month of his three-year sentence, he now faces the remaining time in prison.