Posted on 03/05/2008 8:10:18 AM PST by Responsibility2nd
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) - A 52-year-old man jumped to his death from a Southern California courthouse balcony hours after being convicted of child molestation, authorities said.
Carlos Edward Tello was facing more than 20 years in prison when he jumped from a ninth-floor balcony of the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana Tuesday afternoon. A suicide note was tucked into his clothing, authorities said.
A jury in a Fullerton courtroom earlier Tuesday convicted Tello of repeatedly molesting a young girl between 1989 and 1994.
Deputy District Attorney Heather Brown tried to have Tello's bail revoked and have him taken into custody immediately after the verdicts were announced. She said he was carrying a suicide note when he was arrested in 2006 in the case and that he might be in danger.
Superior Court Judge Greggory Prickett declined to revoke Tello's bail, instead ordering him to return to the Fullerton courtroom by 4:30 p.m.
Just after 4 p.m. at the Santa Ana courthouse, an alarm sounded that someone had entered a restricted area, said Orange County Sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino.
A bailiff found Tello standing on the balcony and tried to wrestle him away from the edge, said police Cpl. Jose Gonzalez.
"He said, 'Nobody's stopping me,'" Amormino said, "and he jumped."
Tello died at the scene.
Any comments?
How hard did the bailiff really try?
Just wondering why there is an accessible balcony in a courthouse.
I’d say that, for at least once anyway, he did the honorable thing.
Hard enough. (But not as hard as the concrete)
A very small contribution to reducing California’s world record state debt.
Happy Ending?
Good. Bye.
Perhaps convicted child molesters should be given free access to balconies from the 5th floor up, as a matter of course, as long as there is no foot traffic below.
Worm food
Sounds like an excellent idea to me.....sure would save the taxpayers some money.
Tello, you think it was rough here on earth, wait until you see what is in store for you in Hell.
Good riddance!
Even worms have standards, you know....:)
cool - another one down, NEXT.
This worked out well for everybody.
Damn him! A lot easier than what he faced in prison.
What a coward. Couldn’t handle the thought of being treated in prison the same way he treated the little girl.
He should have done that before he molested the girl. At least we won’t pay to feed him. Cremate and to the garbage dump.
Works for me.
Superior Court Judge Greggory Prickett declined to revoke Tello's bail,...I'm impressed with any Judge willing to impose Capital Punishment on child molesters.
Defenestration of Prague.
All applause aside, I’d like to know more about the evidence that was used to convict the guy. Why did it take 12 years to bring to a court, and how reliable is evidence that is more than a decade old??? Assuming that the only evidence used to convict him was not forensic in nature due to it taking 12 years to find it’s way into court.
You may be right...
Seriously, I wouldn't try to wrestle someone away from the edge of a balcony if they were trying to jump unless I was secured. People don't like dying alone, and he could definitely have taken the bailiff with him.
In California, someone does not have to touch a person’s privates, they do not have to be naked, or partially exposed. In CA if you touch a person anywhere on their body, even a hug or pat on the back, and the DA thinks you have had a sexual intent, you can be convicted of a felony of lewd behavior with a minor.
I know someone currently who is going through a trial where there is NO touching, NO nudity, NO nothing even in the allegations by the “victims”. Yet he is being prosecuted as a child molester.
We have more people in prison than ever before. People are going to jail for peeing next to their car and giving kids hugs. I had the same attitude as you all until I have been witnessing the atrocity first hand. You should all be afraid because the legal system can ruin anyone’s life.
Which direction?.............
It wasn’t the fall that killed him you know!!
Self-Defenestration of prick..................
But buzzards aren’t quite so picky.....;]
Good point. Unless you could get a hold of an arm and use leverage to pull them toward the balcony you would risk being taken over the railing yourself. Besides, the convicted child molester just saved the tax payers a bundle.
Thank you for your sanity. Real child molesters should go to jail, people that commit real crimes should go to jail, but our legal system is out of control. Until you see the evidence, someone being convicted means nothing, and this will not change until the public wakes up.
what did the note say?
I don’t think this sad little story of yours compares in anyway to this suicidal child molester.
But thanks for sharing.
True that. Personally, I often take the position that child molesters cannot get better, they will always be a threat, and that the death penalty is the only punishment that makes sense.
However, such a draconian viewpoint only makes sense if the legal definition of "molestation" is only applied to serious crimes. And of course everyone deserves a fair trial. I have no patience for false victims trying to ruin people with lies.
But if a serious crime has taken place, if the evidence of guilt is compelling, then I think the way forward is clear.
$32,000 per year per prisoner.
And was it the same one he had back in 2006?
This guy has a a death wish for years.
No man’s Life, Liberty or Property are safe, as long as court is in session.
"Oh no, don't jump. You have so much to look forward to. Stop struggling ... look on the bright side of life."
Yeah, it is the sudden deceleration at the end!
I’m wondering how much pain a person feels before everything fades to black?
You are so right.
An honorable and decent late friend of mine had his life ruined by an ***hole of a prosecutor. It destroyed his business, took all of his wealth, ruined his reputation. My friend was a fighter though. He fought it tooth and nail for almost a decade- every false accusation and charge was defeated. But, by the time it was over, he was advised to plead to a misdemeaner so the whole thing would go away. His lawyer advised him to take the deal because it would have cost him the rest of his life to sue the county to get any money back.
At the end of it all, he took the deal and within five years was dead; probably because of the stress.
Matter of fact, I had another acquaintance who was imprisoned during his trial in solitary confinement for one year here in Los Angeles. On the day of his hearing, they said he committed suicide by "cutting his own throat".
Sure he did. Right. If they want to destroy someone, they will go to great lengths to do it. Your choices are few. Either be prepared to be a warrior and literally fight to the death, or cave in, do the time and keep your mouth shut. Welcome to the new gulag comrade.
Good question.
(I also wonder if the suicide note was admitted in trial)
Somehow this case, with two suicide notes, does not seem to be a candidate for a false accusation analysis. (ie divorce proceedings, angry father who does not approve of boyfriend, etc.)
scarier if you consider how many Nifongs are SOP in TRAINING those fresh out of law school lawyers.
For suicidal child molesters, silly.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.