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Jules Vasquez reporting
At 1:35 pm Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez pulled up at the Orange Walk Police Station - he was flanked by two attorneys while his nephew Karim Berges walked beside him. He walked into the police station, which would also act as the courtroom today - since the Supreme Court was occupying the courthouse. The media was not allowed in - we were told it is a private matter.

By 2:15 pm, his attorney Dickie Bradley was outside - and he told us that Tulio Mendez would be out shortly and that he would give a short statement.

We waited - and coming unto 3:00 pm - police made all efforts to remove the media from the doorway.

Supt. Dennis Arnold, O/C Orange Walk
"Just give me a little break here."

Jules Vasquez
"Sir, we can't. We have to do our job and it is here that it is happen."

Supt. Dennis Arnold, O/C Orange Walk
"Look here man. You will tell me that. This is the police station. This is the compound."

Jules Vasquez
"I swear, I respect your authority. He just has to give us a word. He is answerable sir - 2,742 people voted for the man. He must could answer somebody."

Supt. Dennis Arnold, O/C Orange Walk
"Yes, but I don't mind you ask the man questions, but just dress back for me."

Jules Vasquez
"But you are making way for the man. We've been here all the while, and we haven't disturbed anybody."

Supt. Dennis Arnold, O/C Orange Walk
"You just have to make way for the man."

Jules Vasquez
"When you do, I will stand my ground sir, with greatest respect."

The police continued but the media held its ground:

Jules Vasquez
"Mr. Mendez, anything to say? Let me get an interview. Sir, anything to say? You are answerable sir."

Police ferretted Mendez back inside - while his attorney gave us an interview:

Richard Dickie Bradley, Attorney for Hon. Tulio Mendez
"The court read 6 charges to the Honorable Tulio Mendez; 4 counts in relation to one child and 2 counts in relation to the other child. These charges are listed as aggravated assault, which is the word that the law uses, but they are in relation to inappropriate touches. Bail was offered in the sum of $5,000, which under the law is a signed bail and he is required to return to court on the 13th day of April."

Reporter
"These charges dated back to when?"

Richard Dickie Bradley, Attorney for Hon. Tulio Mendez
"They go back as far as 2005."

But while Bradley was talking - Tulio Mendez's escape facilitated by police was on - they let him through a side door and his vehicle went against the flow of traffic and with that he was gone no comment - no nothing - he other attorney filled in the blanks:

Andrew Bennett, Co- Counsel - Hon. Marco Tulio Mendez
"No plea was taken because the crown intends to bring this matter as an indictable matter."

Jules Vasquez
"Your suggestion would seem to be that aggravated assault suggests more than a touch - that the allegation is that fondling was involved."

Andrew Bennett, Co- Counsel - Hon. Marco Tulio Mendez
"The law states that if there is anything done indecent toward a child, it would be treated as aggravated assault and so it has a separate provision under the criminal code. So, yes, that may be, we don't know what the prosecution case is, but that may be some of the elements that they intend to bring. As it is, Dr. Mendez is an innocent person. He is to be treated as an innocent person and so what we intend to do is to put forward a formidable defense and that is what you will hear in court. Our client will speak to the media. I believe he will make a statement, so as it is, it is up to him and we will hear from him in the near future."

We are still awaiting word on if and when that statement will be forthcoming.

And while Tulio Mendez become the first member of the House to be charged for child molestation - he is not the first member of his family to face such charges. In April of 2013, his brother Cesar Mendez, a Beqnue Viejo pharmacist pleaded guilty to aggravated assault of an indecent nature and was fined five hundred dollars. He was accused of fondling a 12 year old girl.

That case was dealt with at the Magistrate's court level - but this one is an indictable offence so that means it is bound for the Supreme Court where a jury would decide his fate. We say "would" because many cases fall on technicalities at the lower court before they reach the Supreme Court.

Tulio Mendez's dash from the media today - can only draw a comparison with the UDP's Elvin Penner, who in March of 2014, became the first elected area representative to be criminally charged for official wrongdoing during the tenure of his own Government. On all appearances at court, Penner avoided the media and had his supporters fight us off - the same thing that Mendez's crowd tried with us today. And while their courtroom exit strategy is the same, the circumstances are very different: Penner was accused of official wrongdoing; Tulio Mendez faces very grievous allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior towards children.