Call it an expensive joyride in a very expensive vehicle - and then you may as well just call it off.
Today in court Erlin Sutherland was fined $7,000 for stealing a $75,000 Mitsubishi Montero and taking it for a wild ride to Boom. The 22 year old pleaded guilty to theft in the Supreme Court before Justice Troadio John Gonzalez.
And while he accepted guilt, the University of Belize student asked for leniency in a statement from the dock, and presiding Justice John Gonzalez heard his plea. In his summation, Gonzalez noted that Sutherland is a UB student, has no prior criminal record, has a young child, and saved the court's time by 'fessing up at the outset. Gonzalez noted that the crime carries a maximum ten-year prison sentence but because of his good record Justice Gonzalez fined him $7,000.
Sutherland has until the end of June to pay the fine or face 3 years in jail. Sutherland stole the Montero from outside the Belize Bank parking lot on the morning of November 27th 2001. The damaged vehicle was later recovered on the Boom road.