Two weeks ago, you saw the ComPol in the courtroom as a prosecutor in the case against Devain Flores, who was charged with child cruelty after a video surfaced showing him pushing and hitting a 3-year-old boy.
Today his sentencing hearing began and the ComPol is in the courtroom himself trying to make sure that a custodial sentence is imposed. He explained what transpired in court today.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"The magistrate just basically heard evidence from him as to why the custodial sentence should not be imposed and on the other hand I presented evidence as to why there should be a custodial sentence and in so doing I had called Mr Vargas who is the director of human service to the court to testify to the court in terms of the prevalence of child abuse cases in Belize and the impact that these cases can have on children who are victims of child abuse. Having done that I basically outline to the court the submission, laying down to authorities as to why the court should impose a custodial sentence and whatever sentence imposed, keep in mind that the accused was charged for two counts which took place on two separate days, that the sentences are to be run consecutively as opposed to concurrently."
"He did express remorse for his actions but I don't buy that, I believe that he basically, in the words of Rihanna, he's only sorry that he caught and his guilty plea as much as, yes, he pled guilty, and by law there is several authorities that speaks to the fact that a guilty plea can reduce a sentence by 1/3, I am saying to the court, with authority again, saying to the court that even though he pled guilty, the fact that the crimes that he is accused of committing have serious aggravating factors that the 1/3 deduction should not be considered in this particular instance so I am hoping the court is going to yield to our submission and the sentence is going to be in accordance to the crime that he is accused of having committed."
"If you were there, when you listen to Mr Vargas, when he testified about the video footage he said that in his experience, as a person who has worked with many children before, he did not see anything in the video that would have warranted the child being disciplined or anything to the effect that the child was being rebellious or reacting in any negative way towards the accused so those are things that I'm hoping the Magistrate is going to take into consideration and pass the appropriate sentence for the crime he's accused of committing."
The sentencing has been further adjourned for Friday, June 7, 2024 when Flores will know if he will go back to jail or be fined the maximum of $3,000 or sent to jail for 12 months on each count.
