3-4-2008 California:
California - A 52-year-old man jumped to his death at a California courthouse 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 Centre in Santa Ana on Tuesday. A suicide note was tucked into his clothing, authorities said.
A jury at a different courthouse, in the nearby town of Fullerton, had convicted Tello earlier in the day of repeatedly molesting a young girl between 1989 and 1994.
He was not immediately taken into custody after the verdict, but was ordered to return to the courthouse later on Tuesday.
Shortly before he was to return, an alarm sounded at the other courthouse, in Santa Ana, that someone had entered a restricted area, said Orange County Sheriff's spokesperson 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,' and he jumped," Amormino said.
Tello was pronounced dead on the scene.
Deputy District Attorney Heather Brown had tried to have Tello's bail revoked and have him taken into custody immediately after the verdict was announced, but the judge declined to do so.
Brown said a suicide note was found on him when he was arrested in 2006 in the case and that he might be in danger. ..more.. by News24
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