In October of last year, when news of a child pornography ring led by American men broke in Punta Gorda it sent shockwaves through that community and indeed across the country. The extent of the pornography is as yet undetermined, but tonight there is a shocking case in Dangriga involving the exploitation of what could be dozens of children from that community.
On Tuesday, police stumbled upon a man with a frighteningly vast collection of child pornography. 58-year-old U.S. citizen Emerson Thomas today pleaded guilty to human trafficking charges today in the Dangriga Magistrate's Court and was sentenced to a year in prison.
The human trafficking charge is only one of many that Thomas is expected to face after police discovered a trove of child pornography material in his home. How much? Well according to our information police seized 44 compact discs along with a computer, which carry video and photographic pornography. Police in Belmopan are analyzing the information but so far some truly disturbing images have emerged involving mostly teenaged children posing nude, and engaging in other deviant sexual acts for the camera.
Police are expected to bring charges for other offences shortly while Emerson is serving his one-year sentence. It's notable that police found him when they were looking for a missing 14 year old girl. She was in his house, and he has since told the police that when they jail him, her family will lose its financial support. Thomas has been resident in Belize for one year.