Man remanded to prison after 10-year-old reports that 3-teeth man touched her inappropriately and gave her $3 not to tell anyone

By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Lords Bank resident accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl was remanded to the Belize Central Prison after the Belize City Magistrate’s Court denied his application for bail following detailed submissions from both the prosecution and defense.

Manuel De Jesus Flores, a local mason, appeared before a Senior Magistrate in Court #5 to face two counts of sexual assault. The charges allege that on July 18, 2026, Flores intentionally and unlawfully touched the female minor—who is 10 years and 5 months old—in a sexual manner without her consent.

The allegations stem from an incident occurring around 12:30 a.m. while the child’s mother was briefly away at a neighboring home. According to court details, the child reported that an elderly man standing at a construction site two lots over motioned for her to come to him. When she refused and went inside, he later entered her yard, asked for a hug, and grabbed her left hand when she attempted to walk away. The assailant then lifted her hips, pressed his erection against her body, touched her inappropriately, and squeezed her breast. Before releasing her, he handed her a $1 coin and a $2 bill, telling her not to tell anyone. The victim threw the money back at him, ran down the street carrying her younger cousin, and met her mother on the road to report what had occurred.

During court proceedings, defense attorney Sharon Pitts-Robateau made extensive submissions advocating for her client’s release, seeking bail even after the sitting Magistrate initially indicated a denial due to the grave nature of the offense. Attorney Pitts highlighted that Flores is gainfully employed as a mason and emphasized the fundamental presumption of innocence, pointing out that the charges are strictly allegations at this stage. She argued that the essential legal purpose of bail is to ensure a defendant returns to court, a goal that could be achieved by setting strict bail conditions rather than remanding him.

Police Prosecutor Sgt. Ayala vigorously countered the application, urging the Senior Magistrate to consider several key factors against granting release. Sgt. Ayala cited the very young age of the victim, the high prevalence and seriousness of sexual assault offenses, and the likelihood that Flores might reoffend given the early morning hour of the alleged incident. The prosecution further argued that releasing the accused would present a significant risk of interference with the young victim or the ongoing police investigation.

After considering the arguments from both sides, the Senior Magistrate sustained the prosecution’s objections and refused bail. Flores was remanded in custody to the Belize Central Prison until his next scheduled court appearance on September 17, 2026.

The post Man remanded to prison after 10-year-old reports that 3-teeth man touched her inappropriately and gave her $3 not to tell anyone appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.