By Jim Haley
Herald Writer
A Seattle high school student accused in the brutal April 12 robbery of a Snohomish jewelry store may not be getting out of jail on bail, despite an emotional plea from his mother and lawyer.
Carlo A. Torrejon is being held on $100,000 cash bail, an amount his family says it can’t afford to pay. Torrejon appeared in Snohomish County Superior Court Wednesday asking that the bail be reduced.
As an alternative, his lawyer asked for some less restrictive alternative to jail, such as home detention and electronic monitoring.
Judge Charles French said no.
Torrejon’s co-defendant in the jewelry store robbery fled to Switzerland a few days after being released on $75,000 bond. An international manhunt is now on for Adrian E. Gordon, 18, also of Seattle. Police believe Gordon boarded a plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport bound for London’s Heathrow Airport, en route to Zurich.
"Mr. Torrejon has at least as many ties to Peru as Mr. Gordon does to Switzerland," deputy prosecutor Mark Roe said.
In addition, Roe pointed out that the first-degree robbery charges could net each of the young men at least 7 1/2years in prison if convicted.
The defendant’s mother, Esperanza Torrejon, told the judge she has been very ill since September 2000 and has had three surgeries.
In a letter to the judge, she begged him to grant "one my fondest wishes: to spend Mother’s Day with my only son, Carlo Antonio."
She said she and her husband will guarantee the defendant’s presence at trial.
During the robbery, Sachi Fine Jewelry owner Brad Jorgensen was hit on the head with a hammer. Store employee Lesa Kraft received a dose of pepper spray and thought she was going to be shot. During Wednesday’s court hearing, both spoke to French, asking that the high bail to be maintained.
The bandits escaped with about $15,000 worth of jewelry, but a passerby shot at the getaway car and wounded one of the suspects. Gordon was tracked down, given medical attention and then bailed out of jail. Torrejon was arrested a few days later.
You can call Herald Writer Jim Haley at 425-339-3447
or send e-mail to haley@heraldnet.com.
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