Alleged Serial Predator Bert Vasquez was back in a Cayo Courtroom today. This time there was no charged atmosphere, no mass protest, no would-be lynch mob waiting for him - still, though, there was a crowd.
He was arraigned on charges based on the complaints of 13 girls - all minors - all from the Cayo district - who allege that he tried everything from assault to abduction.
It is a case of incredible, unmatched proportions - one 28 year old man charged for assaulting 13 girls and killing one. Our team just came back from Cayo half an hour ago, and here's a rundown of all of today's activities in Cayo:...
Monica Bodden reporting
Around 2:30 this afternoon, 28 year old Bert Vasquez was escorted by police into the Cayo District Magistrate Court, where he was arraigned for various assault charges. Representatives of the media took their seat inside the courtroom but were shortly asked by the Magistrate to exit the room due to the fact that certain information was going to to be requested that involved the 13 minors. In the end Vasquez was charged with 1 count of abduction, 11 counts of common assault and 1 count of aggravated assault.
Senior Superintendent Chester Williams - Officer Commanding Cayo Police
"Mr. Vasquez has just been arraigned for 11 counts of common assault, one count of abduction and one count of aggravated assault, so he got a total of 13 counts."
Reporter
"Sir, he was asking to speak with the media and the public. Why wasn't this allowed?"
Senior Superintendent Chester Williams - Officer Commanding Cayo Police
"Mr. Vasquez is a prisoner in police custody and as a prisoner his freedom has been restrained and such he has no right to communicate with the media."
Monica Bodden
"Will he be remanded to Hattieville Prison at this time?"
Senior Superintendent Chester Williams - Officer Commanding Cayo Police
"Yes, he is being transported to the Hattieville Prison as we speak."
Reporter
"Sir - a really valiant effort by the public as well as the police department. What kinds of efforts were put together from both parties to have this man caught?"
Senior Superintendent Chester Williams - Officer Commanding Cayo Police
"I must say as has expressed yesterday, the invaluable commitment of the community in supporting the police. So when people say that the public has no confidence in the police - this is indicative of good police/community relations and I would hope that this relation would continue that the police continue to be successful in other investigations."
Reporter - PLUS TV
"Are all the charges originating from within this particular district?"
Senior Superintendent Chester Williams - Officer Commanding Cayo Police
"Yes this is the Cayo Judicial District - we deal with matters in this case. There are matters from within Santa Elena to Cristo Rey to San Ignacio Town, so all 13 counts are from within the San Ignacio jurisdiction."
And even though the crowd was not as large as yesterday's turnout, they were still many who lined in front of the police station to see Bert Vasquez escorted away into the police van that would take him to the Hattieville prison.
As police escorted the alleged children predator through the crowd, he shouted to the media that he was an innocent man.
Monica Bodden
"Bert, did you have anything to do with the murder?"
Bert Vasquez
"I will be in touch with you in time. I am innocent to all these claims, I am being framed."
And then he was driven out of San Ignacio Town by police - and unto the Hattieville prison where he will be remanded until August 14th.
Today's crowd included her scout family.
There's more ahead on tonight's news - as we speak with a psychiatrist about what would drive a pedophile to kill.
