A Hollister resident went postal and attempted to jump off the
second-story balcony at the San Benito County Courthouse to escape
going to jail Wednesday morning.
Hollister – A Hollister resident went postal and attempted to jump off the second-story balcony at the San Benito County Courthouse to escape going to jail Wednesday morning.
Judge Harry Tobias informed 20-year-old Timothy Valencia, who was being sentenced for having unlawful sex with a minor, that he would be remanded into custody because he didn’t report to the probation department, according to his attorney, Public Defender Greg La Forge.
The news was too much for Valencia to handle, and after sprinting out of the court room he ran into mailman Ed Smith, who was delivering mail to the upstairs offices.
“I dropped my tub of mail and I grabbed hold of him. I was still able to protect the mail,” Smith said. “After that I proceeded with my duties. Nor rain, sleet or any escaped convict will stop the mail.”
But a strong desire to stay out of jail kept Valencia’s blood pumping, and he wriggled away from Smith and tried to jump over the second-story railing. By that time bailiff Lupe Sosa was on the scene and helped Smith grab Valencia before he made it over the balcony.
As Sosa was attempting to restrain him, he managed to get free again and lawyer Arthur Cantu, who was at the court for other cases, thwarted his third escape attempt by grabbing him around the waist.
“I saw my friend Lupe asking for help so I went out to his defense,” Cantu said. “I then reminded (Valencia) the more he fights, the longer he’ll stay in jail.”
Valencia was then taken back into custody and booked into the San Benito County Jail for felony escape and misdemeanor resisting arrest. Including the felony unlawful sex charge, Valencia’s bail was set at $501,000 bail, according to jail personnel.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
