Posted on 12/09/2007 6:49:58 AM PST by Daffynition
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. -- First, a homeless child rape suspect turned violent in a Seminole County courtroom. Then he was forced to wear a mask on his face to keep him from spitting, before the jury returned a guilty verdict late Thursday afternoon.
Antonio Rosales is accused of raping a 10-year-old girl. Before court could even begin Thursday, a judge had to decide if Rosales was competent to stand trial after a violent outburst Wednesday.
After a brief hearing Thursday, Rosales told a judge he wanted to be left out of the courtroom because he said he might lash out again. Initially, a team of deputies brought 41-year-old Antonio Rosales into the courtroom wearing a bizarre mesh head-covering and a mask. Authorities said they put it on him after he threatened to spit at people.
It was the second strange scene in two days. Wednesday afternoon, Rosales erupted in the courtroom as prosecutor Anna Valentini made her closing argument.
The illegal immigrant from Guatemala is on trial for the attempted murder and sexual battery of a 10-year-old girl in Casselberry in 2003. A court appointed doctor said Rosales was insulted by the allegation he's a child molester.
"This is someone who told me that was he is insulted," court-appointed doctor Jeffrey Danziger said.
Despite the outburst, the judge found Rosales competent to continue his trial. During that hearing, extra deputies surrounded Rosales, who promised to behave.
But, before the jury returned, Rosales asked to stay out of the courtroom so he wouldn't hear the same disturbing details of how prosecutors say he pulled a girl into the woods and tried to kill her four years ago.
"He strangled her so much it left bruises on her face and insect bites all over her body," Anna Valentini said in court Thursday.
Late Thursday afternoon, the jury returned a guilty verdict against Rosales on charges of kidnapping, attempted murder and sexual battery after deliberating for around two hours. Rosales faces a mandatory life sentence, but has to stand trial for murder in Arizona.
He strangled her "so much"? How about "so hard" or "with so much force". And how does strangling someone lead to insect bites all over her body?
If guilty, this guy needs to die. Sadly, if it happens at all, it will take much longer than the 4 years it took to get to trial. Speedy justice.
We ought not to be able to hurt criminals self esteem.
< LibThink/ off >
When I was transporting prisoners I hated spitters. We’d put a stocking over their head with a golf ball knotted in the toe. If they spit, it just drooled down their face. If they tried to get the stocking off (they were hadcuffed) they’d usually just end up knocking themselves silly with the golf ball.
ping
Like-minds!!!
They're not toys; but there's no warning about them not being "protective gear."
Is he was? Perhaps he am is.
Amen!
I saw that. These people are disgusting.
And Bush wants to load this country up with scumbags.
He raped an American child.
But wait, it's OK.
Americans do the same.
Talk about flawed logic.
The crimes in Florida and Arizona are the only instances where the police had enough evidence on this perp to convict. I wonder if the perp is responsible for some “cold cases”.
I wouldn’t doubt that one bit. Additionally, there are likely other children he’s molested and/or killed.
Child molesters do not just molest one child.
LOL
Plastic is a far better barrier to restrict a “spitter” and if correctly applied, will also put an end to verbal attacks. ;)
Sounds as if that could become a patent idea.
Don’t know how you kept your sanity as a LEO. Maybe a second career as a public school teacher could be in your future.
Investigators said the attack was frighteningly similar to a murder he's accused of committing in Arizona."There was choking, strangulation and then, ultimately, the sexual assault," explained prosecutor Lora Horan.
...Law enforcement from Arizona are expected to fly to Florida soon to pick up Rosales, who has to go to trial for allegedly murdering an elderly woman there.
Rosales also served time in a Guatemalan prison for murdering a woman there.
I was actually in corrections. After 15 years of retail it was nice to have a job where you could club your customers.
Only stayed about a year, went on to other things.
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