Dad who allegedly bit out son's eye makes first courtroom appearance
BY STEVE E. SWENSON, Californian staff writer sswenson@bakersfield.com
Angelo Vidal Mendoza, accused of mutilating his 4-year-old son's eyes, made his first court appearance Friday in a wheelchair and wearing hospital gowns.
Mendoza, 34, said yes to a couple questions from Judge Colette M. Humphrey, including waiving his right to a preliminary hearing. His attorney stood in front of him to shield his view from news cameras during the short court appearance.
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Jenn Ireland / The Californian Angel Mendoza leaves the courtroom in his wheelchair after his status hearing Friday morning. Mendoza is accused of mayhem, torture and child cruelty after attacking and biting out the eyes of his son Angelo Mendoza Jr.
The judge ordered him to stand trial on charges of mayhem, torture and child cruelty. He's expected to be back in court on June 15.
The charges stem from a savage attack on April 28 on Angelo Mendoza Jr. whose left eye was bit out and right eye was severely damaged. The wounds left the boy blind. The child's hands were also bitten.
Mendoza, who has been in a wheelchair for four years, went to a vacant backyard after the attack and cut his own legs with an ax and a ceramic plate, police reports say.
Police reports say Mendoza tried to make it appear that gang members attacked him.
He has been at Kern Medical Center since then, missing three court dates in the last two weeks because he remained in the hospital.
He came in the courtroom Friday with what appeared to be a red blanket covering his legs and wearing hospital gowns.
His attorney, Deputy Public Defender Joel Lueck, stood in front of the wheelchair to keep the news media from seeing his client's face. Both Lueck and prosecutor John Lua agreed to a gag order which prevents them from making any comment on the case.
The boy was hospitalized for a couple weeks, but he is now in protective custody at an undisclosed location.
If convicted as charged, Mendoza could face life terms in prison with the possibility of parole.
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