Two inmates sentenced in deadly 2006 O.C. jail beating
Two inmates were sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in state prison for their roles in the 2006 beating death of an inmate in Orange County's largest jail.
The slaying of John Derek Chamberlain at Theo Lacy Jail sparked a grand jury investigation that rocked the county jail system and resulted in at least three deputies leaving the Sheriff's Department.
Chamberlain, 41, who lived in Mission Viejo, was beaten by a throng of inmates while deputies charged with monitoring inmates' activity were napping, watching television or sending text messages, according to a report by the Orange County district attorney's office.
The inmates believed that Chamberlain was in jail on child-molestation charges, but he was actually booked in connection with possessing child pornography. At least one inmate alleged that he was given orders by a deputy to give Chamberlain a "touch up" -- a beating in jailhouse jargon.
Cameras have since been placed in the Theo Lacy barracks.
On Tuesday, Christopher Teague, 34, and Jeremy Dezso Culmann, 27, pleaded guilty to one felony count of voluntary manslaughter and received 15-year sentences, the district attorney's office said.
Another defendent pleaded guilty last week and was sentenced to 20 years in state prison. Six other inmates are charged with murder and face up to 25 years to life in state prison, authorities said.
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-- Robert J. Lopez
Photos: Christopher Teague, top, and Jeremy Dezso Culmann. Credit: Orange County district attorney's office
EDITOR'S PICKS:
The distinction made that John Derek Chamberlain was in jail on possession of child pornography and not on child molestation charges is laughable. HE IS A PEDOPHILE!
God works in mysterious ways....
Posted by: u know | January 18, 2011 at 08:08 PM
Unfortunately, I have been an inmate in this facility. And that is the mentality of the guards. To pit inmates against each other. It is a form of control. That's part of the jail culture in Orange County.
Posted by: Alex P. Gomez | January 18, 2011 at 08:52 PM
thats part of jail culture every where, no one likes pedophiles, not even the c/o's
Posted by: mike | January 19, 2011 at 12:46 AM