Carl Henry Telusma, 28, was found guilty as charged of one count of Battery on an Inmate or Detainee following a one-day trial in Lee County.
The crime happened in July of 2018 in the intake area of the Lee County Jail in downtown Fort Myers. The defendant walked up to the victim who had been sitting in a chair and kicked him in the head. The defendant and victim had never spoken to each other or interacted. This was a random act of violence caught on video.
Telusma was immediately taken into custody by deputies with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. He told them that the victim “looked like someone who beats women” and that he “didn’t like people who did that.”
The victim had been in custody for driving on a suspended license and testified against his attacker at trial.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 7th. Assistant State Attorney Tyler Lovejoy prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
ssyoen@sao20.org
239-533-1125