Justin Goff rejects 1 year sentence for guilty plea in ammunition case

By Breaking Belize News Staff: Justin Stephen Goff, 38, has decided to maintain his not guilty plea and proceed toward trial on a charge of keeping unlicensed ammunition, two days after asking the Belize City Magistrate’s Court for an indication of the sentence he could receive if he pleaded guilty.

Goff appeared in court Friday morning and told the Magistrate that, after considering the matter, he would not plead guilty.

On Wednesday, August 19, Goff had requested a sentence indication as he considered changing his plea. He was reportedly informed that, after consideration of an early guilty plea and other mitigating and aggravating factors, he could face a sentence of approximately one year and four months’ imprisonment.

Goff, however, rejected that option on Friday and will instead contest the charge.

His case was adjourned until September 4, 2026, when he is expected to receive disclosure from the prosecution.

Goff was first arraigned on April 7, 2026, after police alleged that he was found three days earlier in possession of three live rounds of ammunition — two S&B rounds and one Aguila round — without a licence.

At his arraignment, Goff pleaded not guilty and alleged that the ammunition had been planted on him by a police officer. He told the court that he had been asleep beneath a shed when officers approached and questioned him about a firearm.

Goff claimed that an officer later produced three rounds of ammunition and falsely attributed them to him.

He remains on remand while the case proceeds.

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