TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Teen Will Be Charged As An Adult In Rapes

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOSH POLTILOVE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 10, 2008

TAMPA - A 13-year-old who authorities say is connected to several rapes in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties will be charged as an adult, according to prosecutors.

If convicted, Jose Walle of 5431 Bishop Road, Wimauma, 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 was involved in rapes in Apollo Beach and St. Petersburg 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 was the severity of the crime and the danger he poses our community," she said.

Walle's Tampa-based attorney, Frank De La Grana, could not be reached Tuesday for comment.

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.

Jacey Laundree, the sister of one of the Apollo Beach rape victims, said she is "relieved" Walle will be tried as an adult.

"Our family is very happy about that," Laundree said. "We're looking forward to getting some tranquility back in our lives."

A resident of Walle's Wimauma neighborhood said the teen "seemed like a good kid."

"He used to come over and talk to my granddaughter," Juanita Tinoco said. "When he came over here, he was a nice kid."

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

He remained jailed Tuesday without bail.

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

Tribune reporter Ray Reyes and News Channel 8 reporter Jeff Patterson contributed to this report.

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT