Yesterday in court, 25 year old Jose Raul Pineda pleaded guilty to stealing $38,500 in cash from his mother.
Allegations are that sometime between December 20, 2022 and January 3, 2023 he stole $25,000 cash in Belize currency along with $6,750 in US dollars currency from his mother, Flor Pineda's home. After the charge was read to him he wasted no time and pleaded guilty. He told the Senior Magistrate, "If I could turn back that day, I would have never had taken that money", said Pineda. He asked the Senior Magistrate if he could have a chance at freedom and not be sent to jail, he would pay back every dime to his mother. When asked if the money was recovered, Pineda said he has none of the money left.
To help her decide on a sentence to impose on Pineda, the Senior Magistrate remanded him into custody at the Belize Central Prison until next week Monday. Minutes after his arraignment, his mother appeared in court to ask if she can get assistance with her son she would withdraw the charges from against him. But due to the large amount of money Pineda is being accused of stealing, the Prosecutor indicated to the Senior Magistrate that he must first get directives from his superior before he could just withdraw the charge based on his mother's request.
The Magistrate told the mother to appear back in court on the day of his sentencing when the matter can be settled.
