An island resident has been sentenced to nearly a decade in prison for sexually abusing a 9 year old child.
TODAY, Justice Candace Nanton sentenced 45-year-old Fidel Medina of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, to nine years and seven months in prison for the offence of assault of a child by penetration, along with two years and seven months for sexual assault. The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Medina will serve just over nine years behind bars.
Medina was convicted last month on two of three sexual offences following a High Court trial. He was found guilty of assaulting a child under sixteen by penetration and sexual assault, but was acquitted on a third count.
The sentencing followed a mitigation hearing earlier today, during which three character witnesses from Medina's neighbourhood testified on his behalf, describing him as humble, helpful, and caring. Despite those testimonies, the court determined that a custodial sentence was unavoidable.
In handing down the sentence, Justice Nanton considered aggravating and mitigating factors, including the young age of the victim, who was nine years old at the time of the offences, and Medina's position of trust.
The victim, who later testified in camera at age eleven, told the court that Medina touched her inappropriately on two occasions in 2023. Medina did not testify during the trial.
He has been remanded to prison to begin serving his sentence.
