Fear No Evil: American ex-soldier jailed after breaking Jesus statue, threatening to kill priest, attempting to strike priest with crucifix in church

By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 40-year-old American former soldier was sent to the Belize Central Prison on Monday after pleading guilty to damaging property at the Divine Mercy Church on the Philip Goldson Highway during an incident in which the church’s priest was allegedly threatened.

Nathan Thomas Mikesell, an American national residing in San Pedro, appeared before Senior Magistrate Mannon Dennison in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court, where he pleaded guilty to one count of damage to property.

Mikesell was fined $2,000 plus $5 cost of court and ordered to pay the amount forthwith. In default, he was ordered to serve five months in prison. He was reportedly unable to pay the fine by the end of the day and was escorted to the Belize Central Prison.

The charge arose from an incident at Divine Mercy Church at around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 29.

According to the facts presented, the church’s priest was preparing for Mass when he heard the church hand bell ringing and later encountered Mikesell inside the building. The pastor told police that Mikesell became aggressive and allegedly threatened to kill him.

Mikesell reportedly picked up a procession crucifix and attempted to strike the priest, but missed. He then allegedly repeatedly struck the crucifix against the ground, damaging it, before later using a pole to damage the Divine Mercy Jesus statue located in the church plaza.

The pastor estimated the damage to the statue at approximately $12,000. Three hymn books, the procession crucifix and a bathroom gate were also reportedly damaged. The pastor was not physically injured.

Police eventually arrived and detained Mikesell. He was later taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for an evaluation after police reported that he appeared unable to provide a meaningful account of what had occurred. Following treatment, he was released back into police custody and subsequently charged.

After pleading guilty, Mikesell also alleged in court that he had been beaten while in police custody. Senior Magistrate Dennison informed him that any complaint regarding alleged police misconduct would have to be taken up with the Police Professional Standards Branch, as the matter before the court concerned the damage-to-property charge.

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