After abruptly admitting during his death penalty trial that he was guilty of 49 heinous crimes, including drugging, sexually abusing and killing his 14-year-old daughter, Mark Mesiti wants to take it back.
Mesiti, 49, intends to ask a Modesto judge to let him withdraw his guilty plea in the long-running case, which began more than a decade ago when a Santa Clara County judge awarded him custody of his kids despite his lengthy criminal record.
The family of the victim, Alycia Allen-Mesiti, was horrified after learning Friday afternoon of Mesiti’s change of heart from the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors there could not be reached for comment.
“Mark is disgusting,” said Alycia’s great-aunt, San Jose resident Roberta Fitzpatrick. “He uses the system to torture us.” [Read Full Article]