Pregnant San Pedro Resident Granted Bail in Alleged Lobster Theft Case

After spending several weeks behind bars, 20-year-old San Pedro resident, Kimane Garbutt, has been released on bail. Garbutt, who is pregnant, was accused of stealing items including lobster, clothing, and cash from musician 52-year-old Robert Palacio. This morning, Garbutt appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court, where she received her disclosure. The court set her trial date for Tuesday, April 15, 2025. The charges stem from an incident on November 5, 2024, in Belize City. Garbutt is accused of stealing several items valued at $730 from Robert Palacio, a 52-year-old musician of Curl Thompson Street. Among the stolen items were two sneakers, a bluetooth speaker, five pounds of fish, one pound of lobster, and clothing. Initially, Garbutt pleaded guilty when she appeared in court on November 11, 2024. However, after disagreeing with the facts read out in court, the magistrate changed her plea to “not guilty.” Garbutt was granted bail at $1,500 plus one surety of the same amount but was unable to meet the conditions and was remanded to the Belize Central Prison. Garbutt, who was unrepresented by an attorney at the time, was accompanied in court by a representative from the Women’s Department.