On Tuesday February 6, 2007, Francisco Belloso age 25 of Farmersville was sentenced for escaping from the Bob Wiley Detention Facility on Christmas day and for forcefully resisting the officer who attempted to arrest him on New Year’s Eve. The Court sentenced him to three years eight months in prison following his guilty plea entered on January 12, 2007.

On December 25, 2006 the defendant escaped from custody at the Bob Wiley Detention Facility. During the investigation and search for the defendant, detectives contacted his girlfriend, Alicia Castillo age 51 of Visalia and informed her of the consequences for helping him avoid the authorities. She stated that she would contact the authorities if he contacted her. However after that, as she later informed authorities, she paid for a place for the defendant to stay as well as the cost of the bus ride for both of them to get from Farmersville to Exeter.

The bus driver recognized the defendant as the man wanted for escaping custody and alerted authorities. Officer Elbisi responded to the area where he recognized the defendant from a wanted poster and saw he was walking with Alicia Castillo. When Officer Elbisi, who was in full uniform, attempted to take the defendant into custody, the defendant began to violently resist the officer’s efforts. After a long struggle and with the assistance of other officers who responded to the area, the defendant finally complied and was taken into custody.

On February 2, 2007 co-defendant Alicia Castillo pled guilty to a Felony charge of accessory after the fact. At the time of her plea she told the court through an interpreter that “I just want to say that I am sorry for what I did.” She is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Samantha Arnerich with assistance by Detectives Larry Camacho from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department along with Officer Karem Elbisi from the Exeter Police Department.

Contact person: Don Gallian, Assistant District Attorney 733-6411.