Man Accused of Stealing Car Battery, Initially Confessed then Changed Plea to Not Guilty – Love FM Belize News & Music Power

A Belize City man was in court today after allegedly stealing a car battery, a claim he initially admitted but later denied. Forty-eight-year-old Rene Alfredo Quilter, a welder from King Street, appeared in Court this morning on a single charge of theft. The charge stems from an incident on Sunday, November 3, where Quilter is accused of taking a Gonher brand car battery, valued at $375, belonging to Jose Espat. Quilter, who speaks Spanish and was provided an interpreter, initially pleaded guilty and explained that he found the battery in a yard and attempted to sell it to a mechanic, only to discover it wasn’t working, at which point he says he discarded it. However, after hearing the court’s account of the incident, Quilter changed his plea to not guilty, saying, “The battery wasn’t even working.” The Magistrate granted Quilter bail of $1,500 with conditions: he must report to the police station weekly, remain in the country without court permission, and avoid any contact with the complainant. Additionally, Quilter must avoid any further legal trouble, or he risks having his bail revoked. Espat told police that he parked his SUV along West Collet Canal early Sunday morning with the battery in the back of his truck while he went to the market. Upon returning, he found the battery missing. A woman who witnessed the theft reportedly identified Quilter as the man who took it. Following this lead, Espat confronted Quilter at a nearby mechanic shop, where Quilter denied the accusation. Espat then made a citizen’s arrest and took Quilter to Precinct 1 Police Station. Police say Quilter later confessed to the theft and led officers to a garbage bin where he retrieved the battery and handed it over.