20-year-old fined $760 for threatening to kill neighbor over cellphone he dropped in neighbor’s yard

By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 20-year-old Belize City man was fined after pleading guilty to threatening to kill his neighbour and assaulting him over a lost cellphone. Charlesworth Welch, also known as “CJ,” a self-employed part-time construction worker of Baracat Street, appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Newshad Mohammed in Court #7, where he was read charges of threat of death and common assault upon his 56-year-old neighbor. According to police, the neighbor reported that on February 23, 2026, Welch approached him at his yard on Baracat Street and accused him of taking his cellphone. The man said Welch told him, “If yuh nuh give me back my f*****g phone, I wah kill yu.” The neighbor also reported that Welch punched him twice to the right side of his chest before threatening to kill him. He told police that his wife was present when the threat was made and that he took the threat seriously. In court, Welch pleaded guilty to both charges and told the Magistrate, “I threaten him out ah frustration.” Welch explained that he had lost his cellphone the day before and believed he had dropped it while passing through the neighbor’s yard with his horse. He said he later saw his neighbor pick up something and put it in his pocket, which led him to believe the man had found his phone. Welch told the court he later tried to apologize to the neighbor, but he did not respond. He appeared remorseful in court. For threat of death, Welch was fined $350 plus $5 cost of court. For common assault, he was fined $400 plus $5 cost of court. Both fines are due by August 31, 2026, or he will face prison time of three weeks and one month, respectively. Police say Welch was detained and charged over the weekend following their investigation. The post 20-year-old fined $760 for threatening to kill neighbor over cellphone he dropped in neighbor’s yard appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.