7 News Belize

Sandhill Robber Caught Red-Handed
posted (September 9, 2010)
Thirty-five year old Elroy Bonnell, who was released from prison about one week ago, went back to jail today when he appeared in the # 8 Magistrate's Court.

He pleaded guilty to robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, keeping a prohibited firearm and keeping ammunition without a gun license.

Magistrate Emmerson Banner sentenced Bonnell to 6 years for robbery, 3 years for keeping a prohibited firearm, 2 years for ammunition without a gun license and 2 years for conspiracy to commit robbery. But Bonnell will only serve six years because the sentences are to run concurrently.

The incident occurred around 2:45 p.m on Tuesday September 7, at mile 19 on the Northern Highway.

Forty-six year old Chinese Businessman Guang Ghan Luo reported to the police that two men entered his shop and one of them held him up with a 12 gauge sawed-off shotgun. Luo said the men stole $1,272.50 and an assortment of phone cards.

The police, acting on information they received went to a house about one mile from where the robbery occurred and staked it out. About half an hour later they saw 3 men come out of the house.

One of the men, identified as Bonnell, threw the sawed off shot gun into the bushes when he saw the police. A second man, identified as nineteen year old Raymond Dominguez, threw away a bag which contained 8.1 grams of cannabis. The third man, identified as 23 year old Francis Bernardez, ran into the bushes and escaped. He was later brought to Ladyville Police Station by his attorney Phillip Palacio.

Dominguez and Bernardez were jointly charged with Bonnell for the firearm and ammunition but the charges were withdrawn when Bonnell's guilty plea was accepted. Bernardez was also charged jointly with Bonnell for robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery but those charges were withdrawn as well.

Dominguez pleaded guilty to two counts of drug possession. He was fined five hundred dollars for each count and given until October 15 to pay.

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