Four people, three relatives and a friend, were charged with possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court.[1] They appeared in court on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.[2] The accused were Leon Anthony Lodge, 24, his mother Juliet Diane Richards, 51, his deaf-mute sister Shanice Brown, 31, and his friend Eldy Jane Taylor, 32, a chef.[1]

Police searched a home at #34 Hemsley Street in the Fabers Road area of Belize City.[3] The search took place on November 27, 2024, and turned up 85.1 grams of cannabis.[3] The drugs were in a barrel in the back room of the house.[4] Lodge admitted the cannabis was his and told the court it was for him and his friends to smoke; he said he stored a larger quantity to avoid frequent purchases.[1] He said his mother and sister did not smoke and were unaware of the drugs.[1] Taylor told the court she was there to smoke.[4]

The magistrate explained that the offence carried a fine of up to $10,000 and a possible three-year prison term and gave Lodge the chance to reconsider his plea and seek legal counsel.[1] Lodge refused representation and kept his guilty plea, so the magistrate entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf when proceedings resumed in the afternoon.[1] All four were granted bail of $2,000 each on condition that they attend every court date and avoid similar charges.[1] They were ordered to return to court on January 9, 2025.[4]

Lodge posted bail that day, but his mother, sister and Taylor were remanded to the Belize Central Prison.[1] Richards and Brown met their bail on November 29, 2024.[2] Taylor spent five nights on remand before she met her bail.[3] She was released on the morning of December 3, 2024.[3]