| Mother Worries For Mentally Ill Man Sent To Jail |
| Wed, May 28, 2025 |
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17 years ago, Richard Cherrington was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and has been receiving treatment for it at the Western Regional Hospital. But on Sunday May 25th he broke into a home in La Democracia village, and allegedly stole almost $4,000 worth of household items.
It wasn't until Police came across Cherrington attempting to sell the stolen items in the village that put the pieces together, and he was detained along with his 15 year old accomplice. Both Cherrington and the minor were arraigned this morning unrepresented and both were charged for the crime of burglary, to which they both pleaded guilty. Due to the nature of the charge only the minor was offered bail of $4,000.
Cherrington's mother had asked the court to speak to her son claiming that he is a mental patient and had the documents to provide it, but the magistrate was of the view that he displayed no signs of being a mental patient during the proceedings. And so Cherrington was remanded to the Belize Central prison until July 14th. Now his mother is concerned for her son given that the last mentally ill inmate died in prison. Here's what she had to say outside of court today.
Voice of: Pamela Cherington, Mother of Mental Patient
"Well all I was telling the judge, the magistrate that he is a mental patient and he isn't conscious of his actions and what is happening but then she says there is no bail so."
Reporter-
"What is your worst fear with these alleged mental patients going to the prison, what is your fear?"
Voice of: Pamela Cherington, Mother of Mental Patient
"You never know what is going to happen, suicidal thoughts come around or mistreatment or you know it's not like we are there to monitor him and say he is on medication and things like that."
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