In a significant legal development in Belize, convicted educator Alex Jason Noralez has petitioned the court for bail pending appeal of his recent sexual assault convictions. The 47-year-old San Pedro teacher, with over twenty years of teaching experience, appeared before the Chief Magistrate exactly one month after being found guilty on two counts of sexual assault against a student.
The proceedings took an unusual turn when the Chief Magistrate ordered the courtroom closed to media representatives, requiring court reporter Anita Nembhard to await developments outside while attorneys presented arguments privately. Noralez’s defense counsel, prominent attorney Richard ‘Dickie’ Bradley, asserted his client’s constitutional right to appeal and expressed confidence in overturning the convictions, particularly highlighting Noralez’s acquittal on a third charge involving another student.
The prosecution, represented by a police prosecutor, urged judicial caution in considering bail for the convicted educator. Meanwhile, Noralez’s family appealed to the court to consider his health conditions during deliberations. The judicial decision regarding Noralez’s temporary release pending appeal is scheduled for March 24th, which will determine whether the educator remains incarcerated or is granted conditional freedom during the appeals process.