Thread: 'BEAST' NIXES PLEA

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'BEAST' NIXES PLEA
'Shaft babies' dad changes mind, wants to go to trial
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
By CARLY BALDWIN
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
The West New York man who allegedly repeatedly raped his teen-age daughter and then directed her to throw two newborn infants down their apartment building's air shaft has turned down a plea deal that would have put him in prison for up to 25 years, saying instead that he'll take his chances with a jury.

Jose Julio Ventura, 45, will face the possibility of life in prison if he goes to trial on charges of homicide, attempted murder and two counts of aggravated sexual assault, prosecutors said.

"The only way he would see any freedom in his lifetime is if he took this deal," Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor Mike D'Andrea said.

Under any scenario, Ventura, an undocumented immigrant, will be deported to his native El Salvador after serving his time.

Ventura, appearing before Judge Kevin Callahan in Hudson County Superior Court, said he would not plead guilty to a charge of aggravated manslaughter and multiple counts of sexual assault.

His court-appointed attorney, Carl Broege, said he was surprised and disappointed that Ventura refused the deal.

"I wanted him to go through with it. He'll never get a better deal, and he can expect a murder indictment," Broege said. "It's clear to me he's receiving advice from his jailmates that's clouding his opinion."

Just a month ago, Ventura told the same judge he wanted to "plead guilty to everything."

"I want it to end, let it end," Ventura said last month.

But Callahan rejected the plea, saying he didn't believe Ventura understood the proceedings against him.

And again yesterday, Ventura appeared frustrated and confused throughout the proceedings, even with the help of a court-appointed interpreter.

Shackled and wearing a prison uniform, Ventura brought two letters with him complaining about Broege, saying he wanted a new lawyer.

"Mr. Broege is not doing his job, he wants me to plead guilty. He's not fighting for my innocence," D'Andrea read from Ventura's letter.

Ventura will go before a grand jury for an indictment on June 21.

Ventura's 18-year-old daughter, Lucila Ventura, is serving five to seven years in a state prison after pleading guilty to reckless manslaughter and aggravated assault.

Both father and daughter were arrested when their newborn baby boy survived a 31-foot fall down the air shaft and was rescued on Sept. 13, 2005. The following day, investigators found the mummified remains of a second newborn, a baby girl, among garbage at the bottom of the shaft.

Investigators believe Jose Julio Ventura is both father and grandfather to the two babies.

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'BEAST': MURDER CHARGE
Thursday, July 20, 2006
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
WEST NEW YORK - An indictment for murder and attempted murder was handed up yesterday against Jose Julio Ventura, who is accused of repeatedly raping his teenage daughter and telling her to throw their two newborn infants down their apartment building's air shaft, officials said yesterday.

On Feb. 14, Ventura, 45, was indicted on the charges of aggravated sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child and sexual assault, authorities said.

His daughter, Lucila Ventura, who was 17 when the second baby was thrown down the shaft last September, has pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter and aggravated assault. Information she gave during her guilty plea was used against her father before the grand jury.

"She said that not only was her father having sex with her but he ordered her to throw the first one out the bathroom window and the second one as well, and was present and assisted in both deliveries," Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Michael D'Andrea said yesterday. The Ventura family's bathroom window opens onto the air shaft.

At a plea hearing on May 8 before state Superior Court Judge Kevin Callahan, Ventura was expected to plead guilty to attempted murder, aggravated manslaughter and multiple counts of sexual assault but he then refused to do so. His court-appointed attorney, Carl Broege, said he was caught off guard by his client's decision.

D'Andrea said at the time that the plea deal was the only chance Ventura had of ever seeing freedom again.

"We made an offer that would have vindicated the state's interest in the case before it was presented to a grand jury but the defendant asserted his innocence and declined any offers," D'Andrea said. "We then brought the evidence before a grand jury and allowed the people of the county to decided what he should be charged with."

The deal Ventura turned down would have put him in prison for up to 25 years, but if tried and convicted on the charges in yesterday's indictment he could face up to life in prison. The new indictment includes multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault and multiple counts of child endangerment, D'Andrea said.

Both father and daughter were arrested when their newborn baby boy survived a 30-foot fall down the air shaft and was rescued on Sept. 13. The following day, investigators found the mummified remains of a second newborn, a baby girl, amid garbage at the bottom of the shaft.

At Ventura's first plea hearing, on April 6, he told Callahan he wanted to "plead guilty to everything," adding "I want it to end, let it end."

But Callahan rejected the plea, saying he didn't believe Ventura understood the proceedings against him.

Lucila Ventura is awaiting sentencing in the Hudson County jail in Kearny, but no sentencing date has been set. She is expected to testify against her father. She faces five to seven years in prison.

Ventura is an undocumented immigrant and if convicted he would be deported to his native El Salvador after serving his sentence.

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'God put the child in our hands'
Thursday, July 20, 2006
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
WEST NEW YORK - A sick jealousy was evident in the way Jose Julio Ventura treated the daughter who bore two of his children, according to the neighbor who found one of their incestuously conceived babies after it had been thrown 30 feet down an air shaft.

"We thought he was a very jealous father because he never let her go out with anyone - boys or girls," said Santiago Salmeron, who said he found the pair's newborn baby boy last year at the bottom of the air shaft outside his bathroom window.

"It's clear now it was a sickening jealousy."

Lucila was 17 when the baby was thrown down the air shaft.

On Sept. 13, Salmeron's wife was taking a shower when she heard crying coming from the bathroom window and called her husband, Salmeron said in Spanish during an interview yesterday.

He opened the window and saw a streak of blood across the narrow air shaft and turned the beam of his flashlight downward, he recalled. When the light landed on the baby, he said, it stopped crying.

"I went down and got the baby because it was a cold night," said Salmeron, who then called the police. At the time, police said they found the baby after neighbors called to report crying.

"I felt like God put the child in our hands to save it," said Salmeron.

The day after the living baby was found, investigators found the mummified baby girl.

Maria Ventura did nothing but cry after her husband and daughter were arrested, said Salmeron.

"She always said she knew nothing, nothing, nothing," said Salmeron, who lives on the building's first floor.

Jose Julio Ventura worked nights and Maria Ventura worked days, he said. Jose Julio Ventura drove Lucila to school each day after her mother had already left for work, he added. Maria Ventura has moved from the building, he said.

"He has to pay," said Salmeron. "The law of the world is that you commit a sin, you pay."

Journal staff writer Pamela Concepcion contributed to this report.

What concerns me is he might get away with it if he's considered incapable of standing trial. Either he really doesn't understand or he's playing it smart.

It is most likely the latter as he did know enough to get rid of the evidence. What a horrid man he should face the death penalty.

sick, sick, sick