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Teen To Be Charged As Adult In Bay Area Rape Cases

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 9, 2008

Updated: 09/09/2008 08:45 am

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  Jose Walle

TAMPA - Jose Walle, 13, will be charged as an adult in several rapes in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. He could face life in prison.

Hillsborough deputies arrested Walle on Aug. 21 along with two men, Rigoberto Moron Martinez and Vicente Reyes-Carbajal. Deputies say the trio were involved in rapes in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties in July and August.

A Hillsborough grand jury indicted Walle last week, Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said.

Bondi said the need to charge Walle as an adult was clear. "It was a very violent and brutal crime. What we considered what the severity of the crime and the danger he poses our community," she said.

In Hillsborough, Walle was charged with 12 counts of sexual battery, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of grand theft and one count each of armed burglary, armed robbery and carjacking.

In Pinellas, Walle was charged with six counts of sexual battery and one count each of kidnapping and robbery.

If he had been charged as a juvenile, Walle would not have faced a life sentence. He might have wound up in a rehabilitation program instead, Bondi said.

Walle arrived at Orient Road Jail on Monday, according to the jail's Web site.

The Wimauma boy remained in jail today. He is being held without bail.

Walle attended Shields Middle School off and on last year but isn't enrolled in the Hillsborough school district this year, a district spokeswoman said last month.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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