Convicted Teacher Alex Noralez Released on Parole Pending Appeal

Tonight, Alex Noralez, teacher at San Pedro High School, is out on parole despite having been denied bail pending appeal only days ago. Noralez was convicted in January on two counts of sexual assault involving three minor high school students in San Pedro Town. He was sentenced to two concurrent 18-month terms but is out on parole tonight after 7 months.

According to his attorney Dickie Bradley, Noralez was released under Belize's parole provisions. Bradley stated that parole legislation provides that "a prisoner who has served over half of his sentence is eligible" for release. However, the reported release has prompted significant legal questions. Noralez's appeal hearing is scheduled for September.