In a significant judicial development, Macario Coy, a 39-year-old educator and former United Democratic Party senator, has been immediately suspended from his position as a Justice of the Peace. The suspension follows criminal charges filed against him in what court documents describe as a “serious offense.
The suspension was formally enacted through a Gazette Extraordinary published on January 5, 2026, which mandates that Coy immediately cease all judicial functions, duties, and powers. This suspension will remain in effect pending the final resolution of Case MTOR 25000666, currently before the Punta Gorda Magistrate Court.
The case stems from allegations made by a 36-year-old female educator who reported an incident of sexual assault allegedly occurring on November 4, 2025. Following these reports, Coy voluntarily surrendered to Punta Gorda Police authorities two weeks later, accompanied by legal counsel. Formal arrest and charges were executed on November 21, 2025, with the court granting bail set at $3,000.
This action is pursuant to provisions within the Justices of the Peace Act, which explicitly requires any individual holding this judicial office to step down immediately when charged with a serious offense, maintaining suspension throughout the judicial process until case resolution.