Woman Fined for Defamatory Facebook Post Under Cyber Crime Law

Erika Marie Twist, a 43-year-old Sales Agent at Acquitty Call Center and resident of Rhaburn’s Alley, Belize City, was today convicted under the Cyber Crime Bully Act after pleading guilty to disseminating a false statement online intended to subject another person to public ridicule, contempt, and embarrassment. Twist, who appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Black, admitted to making a Facebook post under the alias “Erika Martinez,” in which she accused a man, known to her family, of inappropriate behavior towards her 15-year-old relative. Although she deleted the post within three hours, it had already circulated and reached the man, a 41-year-old Senior Monetary Advisor employed at a local bank. According to court records, the post stated that the man had offered the girl a ride to school and, upon arriving, allegedly asked her if she had ever kissed a man and whether he could get a kiss from a 15-year-old. The post, accompanied by the man’s photo, went on to express outrage and warned other parents to protect their children. The man filed a complaint with the Crimes Investigation Branch on May 8, reporting that the post had defamed his character and caused him embarrassment. He confirmed he knew Twist personally, as she is a relative of the minor who made the initial complaint. Notably, the man had already been charged by police on May 7 with the offense of common assault and is currently out on bail. In her court appearance, Twist told the magistrate that she acted out of anger and emotional pain upon hearing of the alleged incident. Magistrate Black took into account Twist’s remorse, early guilty plea, and clean record before imposing a non-custodial sentence: a fine of $400 plus $5 in court costs, due by June 30, 2025. Failure to pay will result in four months’ imprisonment.