Michael Schumacher, Kelly Lau and Carén Ramirez admitted to cutting, burning, beating, starving, drugging, imprisoning and threatening a teenager, named in court papers as Kyle R., over an extended period inside a house on Tennis Lane.
A fourth person accused of the crimes, neighbor Anthony Waiters, did not make a plea deal with prosecutors.
While prosecutors in the case withdrew the charge of torture as part of the deals for Schumacher, Lau and Ramirez — a charge that could have landed the accused life in prison — they added and amended several charges. Included in those were making criminal threats, assault with caustic chemicals, use of a deadly weapon and several counts of causing great bodily injury to a child.
The end result will be 30 years in prison for Schumacher, 33 for Lau and 34 for Ramirez if they maintain their guilty pleas until the Dec. 6 sentencing, which will take place at 8:30 a.m. in Department 32.
Lau and Schumacher, in addition to the charges for abusing Kyle, were charged with one felony and three misdemeanor counts of child abuse stemming from their own children. Ramirez faced and admitted to a charge that she kidnapped Kyle, a charge the others in the case did not face.
While Schumacher, Lau and Ramirez return to jail to await their final sentences, the saga of what Van Oss has called “One of the weirdest cases I’ve ever seen,” continues.
Waiters has not agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors, and San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Angela Hayes said that her office is prepared to go the distance.
“We’re ready to go,” she said. “We’re prepared to go to jury trial.”
Jury selection for Waiters’ trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Oct. 12, and Hayes said opening statements should be given in about two weeks.
Hayes said the plea deals by Schumacher, Lau and Ramirez will make the trial much more simple.
She said the deals were beneficial because they prevent Schumacher and Lau’s children from having to take the stand and because a trial with four defendants would have been significantly more complicated.
While Hayes didn’t elaborate further because of a gag order on the case, she did say that Kyle was ready to testify against Waiters once the trial gets under way. Except for giving grand jury testimony, Kyle has been kept out of the public eye since his dramatic escape from his captors in December 2008, when he vaulted a backyard fence and appeared in a Tracy Boulevard health club with a shackle still around his ankle.
Tony's actions or inactions are not something expected from a fine person, great coach or trusted guardian of kids.
Oh, and I did a bit of research about the statement "he could never do that" and came up with that same statement being used during two well known trials. The statements were in defense of both serial killers; John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy. Again, stop me when I lie.
I agree with you 100% and I must say I am glad that I am not the only one willing to stick up for Tony. I have known him for many years and know he would NEVER hurt a child. I do believe that Kyle is mistaken… After all he was drugged made to drink alcohol and starved. Plus I am sure the awesome Tracy PD had a hefty influence on his “memory”. They knew they were in the media spot light so I am sure they did their best to help him remember things that they wanted him to remember.
Maybe it may be benficial if Kyle is able to face his abusers in person. No doubt, if he wanted to do this the court would allow.
Personally, I would love the opportunity, but as a young adult who has gone through unimaginable things, he may not take be willing (or ready) to do this.
I know it is hard to believe that a once decent guy could do such horrible things to another human being, but it happens everyday. Think OJ, Peterson, etc.
I knew a man for over 20 years, married into our family, not once did I suspect anything abnormal. Until last year when he was sentenced to San Quentin for molesting his step daughter. Like I said, it happens all the time.
Either way good riddance’s to them.
As for Tony… Good for him. I never believed that he did any of the things being said. I am glad to see him sticking up for himself. He was a great coach and NEVER not even once was mean to any kid on the team. I think he was just friends with the wrong people. I hope this is over for him soon, he has spent way too long in Jail as it is.
As far as Anthony Waiters, I am hoping that he just pleads guilty and Kyle will be able to avoid going through a trial. Hasn't Kyle gone through enough already?
Maybe studies can be done on them on how much pain a body can take!
Sorry, dark side of Amy speaking.
CN
ICU duty was much more mild than the Trauma Unit, and you ought to have seen the injuries done on a body once brought in......you did not hurt Kyle, a little bit, you hurt him a lot in, mind, body and soul!
They got off easy. Courtesy of taxpayers.
“We’re ready to go,” she said. “We’re prepared to go to jury trial.”
Jury selection for Waiters’ trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Oct. 12, and Hayes said opening statements should be given in about two weeks.
Hayes said the plea deals by Schumacher, Lau and Ramirez will make the trial much more simple.
----------------------------------
Mr. Hayes, "news flash," these three defendants are now able to testify against your client at trial. Maybe that's why they opted for the plea deal to begin with huh? Do yourself, your client and the good people of San Joaquin County who may have to serve as jurors a favor. Instead of spinning the wheels (of the justice system), take the deal...
I'm glad they will be off the streets for a long time, and I am glad that our FLAT BROKE county was spared the expense of a long and complex trial, but I seriously don't feel that 17 years is nearly enough.
Hopefully they will fail the psych-evaluation and be unfit for early release.