[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----OHIO, CALIF.

[Rick Halperin]

July 8



OHIO:

Man faces retrial in slaying after death penalty overturned



A man accused of raping and killing a female bartender is set to face retrial 
after the Ohio Supreme Court overturned his conviction and death sentence.

The News-Herald in Willoughby reports jury selection was set to begin Monday in 
Lake County court for 34-year-old Joseph Thomas’ retrial in the 2010 slaying of 
Annie McSween.

Prosecutors say Thomas attacked the 49-year-old woman by her car after she 
asked him to leave the bar where she worked in Mentor-on-the-Lake in 
northeastern Ohio.

The state’s high court overturned his conviction in 2017, ruling that Thomas’ 
knife collection shouldn’t have been introduced into evidence during the 
original trial because the weapons weren’t used in the slaying.

Thomas has argued he’s innocent.

(source: Associated Press)








CALIFORNIA----female may face death penalty

7-year-old involved in drowning incident dies



The 7-year-old boy who was found unresponsive in a deep irrigation ditch died 
Saturday night at Valley Children's Hospital.

He was found a week ago Saturday morning, June 29, along with his 12-year-old 
brother, also unresponsive in a full irrigation ditch near a corn field in the 
18900 block of Avenue 184.

The 12-year-old died as a result of the incident and the 7-year-old died a week 
later. The boys' mother, 45-year-old Sherri Telnas, is responsible for the 
death of both children, Tulare County homicide detectives stated.

An autopsy ruled the 12-year-old's death was caused by fresh water drowning.

Sherri Telnas, 45, has been charged with drowning the 12-year-old. She will 
most likely face an additional homicide charge for the 7-year-old's death.

Telnas told Tulare County Sheriff's Office deputies she drowned her children 
because "they were possessed by demons," court documents stated.

The 12-year-old died after being submerged in water, deputies stated. The 
7-year-old suffered a trumatic brain injury likely caused by lack of oxygen.

An autopsy will be done to determine the exact cause of death

Telnas was arraigned last week and faces one count of murder with the special 
circumstance of lying in wait, one count of attempted murder causing great 
bodily injury, one count of battery, and one count of battery on a peace 
officer.

The count of murder with the special circumstances of lying in wait means 
Telnas faces the death penalty.

Telnas planned to enter a not guilty plea. Telnas next court date is August 15 
in Department 17 of the South County Justice Center.

(source: recorderonline.com)

*************************

7-year-old Tulare County boy dies, mother now accused of double homicide in 
sons' deaths.



After a week of fighting for his life, a 7-year-old boy died at Valley 
Children's Hospital.

The boy's mother is responsible for his death and the death of his 12-year-old 
brother, according to Tulare County homicide detectives.

Sherri Telnas, 45, has been charged with drowning Jacob's older brother, 
Jackson Telna. She will most likely face additional homicide charges in 
connection with Jacob's death.

Last week, District Attorney Tim Ward filed a four-count complaint against 
Telnas. The charges shed light on the "horrific" June 29 morning in rural 
Tulare County.

Detectives believe the mother took her children to a rural irrigation ditch and 
drown both boys.

Telnas told deputies she drowned her children because "they were possessed by 
demons," according to court documents. After being interrogated, detectives 
said Telnas "threw spit" on the deputies who interviewed her.

Jackson died after being submerged in water, according to deputies. Jacob 
suffered a traumatic brain injury likely caused by a lack of oxygen from 
drowning.

An autopsy will determine an exact cause of death, deputies said.

Telnas, who was arraigned last week, faces 1 count of murder with the special 
circumstance of lying in wait, 1 count of attempted murder causing great bodily 
injury, 1 count of gassing, and 1 count of battery on a peace officer.

The special allegation that Telnas was lying in wait before allegedly killing 
her sons means she could be eligible for the death penalty.

(source: Visalia Times-Delta)