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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.