Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez - we've reported plentifully on the charges and allegations against him. On Tuesday he appeared in Orange Walk Magistrate's Court where he was formally arraigned on six counts of aggravated assault of an indecent nature. So what's the maximum time in prison that he could face? Well, the law says, a person convicted of such an offence under summary jurisdiction is, quote "Liable to a fine of not less than $3000.00 dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months." But under indictment, that goes up to three years in prison - and that is 3 years per charge, and he faces six charges. So, were he to be convicted on all counts, the maximum would be 18 years in prison.
Dr. Mendez hasn't told us anything, but his party leader Francis Fonseca says Tulio Mendez will vigorously fight the charges.
And so that means he likely won't step down from his seat in the House of Representatives, and its clear his party won't urge him to resign. A member of the house is only forced to vacate his seat is he is convicted and sentenced to prison for more than a year, even if it is a suspended sentence.
As we showed you last night, 5 members of the house have been charged criminally in the last 8 years with various offences and none were convicted.
Email
Print