TWO INMATES SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ROLE IN BEATING-DEATH OF FELLOW INMATE BELIEVED TO BE IN CUSTODY FOR CHILD MOLEST

January 18, 2011

Orange County District Attorney's Office

* These are the second and third defendants to be convicted in this case; six additional defendants are charged with murder

SANTA ANA - Two jail inmates were sentenced today for their role in the beating-death of a fellow Theo Lacy Facility inmate who was believed to be a child molester. Christopher Teague, 34, Long Beach, and Jeremy Dezso Culmann, 27, Corona, pleaded guilty to one felony count of voluntary manslaughter and were each sentenced to 15 years in state prison.

Co-defendant Michael Stewart Garten, 25, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty Jan. 11, 2011, to one felony count of voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 20 years in state prison. Six additional inmates are charged in this case with one felony count of murder and face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. Those defendants are Garrett Eugene Aguilar, 28, Anaheim, Stephen Paul Carlstrom, 42, Anaheim, Miguel Angel Guillen, 48, Santa Ana, Eric Charles Miller, 25, Huntington Beach, Jared Louis Petrovich, 26, Tustin, and Raul Villafana, 24, Santa Ana. Miller is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on July 15, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-35, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. The remaining five defendants are scheduled to face a jury trial Feb. 18, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-35, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

On Oct. 5, 2006, Teague, Culmann, and a group of inmates targeted inmate John Chamberlain because they believed him to be a child molester. Chamberlain was in custody on possession of child pornography charges. These inmates are accused of beating Chamberlain repeatedly inside a cell in the jail facility by punching, kicking, and stomping on him. Teague and Cullman punched Chamberlain multiple times at the onset of the attack and then left the cell as other inmates continued to beat the victim. Chamberlain was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A Special Criminal Grand Jury (SCGJ) was empanelled in May 2007 at the request of the Orange County District Attorney's Office (OCDA) to investigate Chamberlain's death. The full report detailing the finding of the SCGJ was released by the OCDA April 7, 2008. To view this report, visit the OCDA website at www.orangecountyda.com/docs/chamberlain_report.pdf.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Ebrahim Baytieh and Deputy District Attorney Keith Bogardus of the Homicide Unit are prosecuting all of the defendants in this case.

Comments

[Triple]

She hadn't seen her brother in person in about 15 year death of a fellow inmate wrongly identified as a child molester pleaded.

[Nuru]

He wasn't a child molester - but he did have child porn with him in his car.

[joaquin martinez]

Well i was incarserated with Jared petrovich i understand the oressure he was probably in no one will ever listen to us inmates only the man up stairs will u see an officer and think well hes a good person but not all oc deputies before chamberlain had passed away they were rasist and loved to beat on us inmates they treated us like animals or worst i can actually say it was like the hallocost with hitler.It wasnt just the inmates falt is was the depuies why wont you believe Jared petrovish the deputies were currupted many times i wanted to cry cuz i was scared not only of the inmates but of the deputies they love beating inmates they had the power.and no one can listen or belive us or you just cant snitch its jail and prison rules buti think there should be justice for everyone.the deputies ther wouldnt really take there jobs serious they b watching tv playing cards not watching us nd taking care of us as its suppose to b there jobs but it did change a lil bit.and i just pray and hope tht god helps those in need specially every inmate in the world nad in our own country usa im blessed to be free and try life again with my family who i love.BIENG INCARSERATED IS A NIGHTMARE SPECIALLY WHEN YOUR FIGHTING LIFE.SOME ARE BAD PPL SOME JUST WRONG PLACE WRONG TIME YOUNGSTERS LIVING LIFE WRONG WE ALL NEED A CHANCE IN LIFE IM TRYING TO BE STRONG AND GET A JOB OUT HERE ITS SO HARD THOUGH BECAUSE OF MY RECORD I WANA BUY MY KOTHER N HELP PAY RENT AND BLLS OR MY TIRED STEP FATHER BUT THE WORLD WONT GIVE ME A CHANCE.ATLEAST IT HASNT YET BUT IM JOT STOPPING IM GOINGBTO WORK HARD AND DO MY VERY BEST TO PROGRESS MY FUTURE AND MY FAMILES...I DNT KNW WHY EXACTLY IM DOIN THIS BUT IT SAID COOMENT AND THIS IS HOW I FEEL..LETS CHANGE OUR WAYS RIGHT AS BROTHERS N SISTERS IN CHRIST..WELL