A Palm Coast man drove to the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center in Bunnell on Tuesday morning to be sentenced to 3½ years in prison on 10 counts of possession of child pornography.
But instead of walking into the courthouse, Mario ___, 47, remained in his truck and apparently shot himself to death outside the courthouse, according to a release from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Mario had pleaded guilty to 10 counts of possession of child porn, which is punishable by up to 150 years in prison and a $150,000 fine.
But the plea agreement reached between his defense attorney and prosecutors called for Mario to serve 42 months in state prison followed by 11 years of sex offender probation. He also had to register as a sex offender.
The sentencing was scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday. Mario instead called 9-1-1 as he sat in his truck according to the phone call released by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. In the call, Mario calmly tells the dispatcher where his body can be found.
“I’m at the Flagler County Courthouse, I drive a white Toyota pickup truck and that’s where you’ll find my remains,” Mario said.
The sheriff’s office, Bunnell Police and Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly responded to the scene and found Mario unresponsive in the driver’s seat. Paramedics arrived but Mario was pronounced dead from an apparent gunshot to the head, the release stated.
Palm Coast man was arrested in May 2020
Mario was arrested in May 2020 when he was charged with 30 felony counts of possession of images of sexual performance by a child.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit began investigating Mario after receiving a tip from Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) in December of 2019.
The investigation led to a search of Mario’s home in which detectives seized several electronic devices. A forensic analysis of the devices found numerous images and videos of child pornography. The Florida Highway Patrol arrested Mario in May 2020.
“It is unfortunate that rather than accept responsibility for his crimes Mario decided to take his own life,” according to a statement from Staly. “Our Cybercrimes Unit did an excellent job building a strong case against Mario and he knew he was likely going to prison. It is unfortunate this was the solution he chose, which will again affect innocent people.”
In the release, the sheriff’s office stated that “suicide is never the answer and that there are many resources available to help those who wish to seek it out, especially in your darkest moments.”
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be contacted at 1-800-273-8255 or on the web at FlaglerLifeline.org.
I know the feeling.
They should have just quoted the sheriff’s spokesman saying “Sorry, not sorry”, because in truth, that’s what they said. This is the same sheriff who recently argued for greater restrictions on where registrants could live.😒
Thanks Florida. You have successfully solved the entire problem.
“It is unfortunate that rather than accept responsibility for his crimes Mario decided to take his own life,” according to a statement from Staly. “Our Cybercrimes Unit did an excellent job building a strong case against Mario and he knew he was likely going to prison. It is unfortunate this was the solution he chose, which will again affect innocent people.”
Ok let me interpret this for everyone. He means its unfortunate that they won’t able to subject him and his family to years of banishment and harassment. Its unfortunate that they won’t be able to raid his house in swat gear to do compliance checks. Its unfortunate that they won’t be able to tell him where he can’t live.
“…will again affect innocent people.” Yeah, just like being listed on the registry affects innocent people.
We also know damn well that the sheriff’s office is not one bit upset by his suicide.
Its a shame this had to happen to someone convicted of a victimless crime. While I do not condone CP, a 150 year max sentence and $150,000 max fine is extremely excessive. I know that’s not what his plea deal was, but still, a second degree murderer in Michigan gets less time than that.
“Our Cybercrimes Unit did an excellent job building a strong case against Mario and he knew he was likely going to prison.”
How arrogant of them to assume and conclude it was the prison sentence.. This was just a veiled attempt to play dumb on the punitive affects of the registry.
It is unfortunate this was the solution he chose, which will again affect innocent people.”
Yeah, boo hoo at that lost opportunity you would’ve had of witch hunting this guy on the Internet forever.
Suicide is never the answer; but taking every aspect of living a law abiding life is, sheriff. Sit down and shut up because you aren’t the answer either, you are a damn problem as well as those in Tally!!
My heart goes out this guy and his family. The terrible anguish and overwhelming hopelessness he must have felt as he sat there in his vehicle struggling with the decision to just end it all.
If you’re going to do it, though, do it in grand fashion. Indeed, I’d want those who support this damn registry to be impacted for life, to relive my last few minutes in their nightmares as I exit the stage in the style of Budd Dwyer.
It’s easy enough to email this sheriff with your thoughts. His email is listed. What I did. Call him every name you can think of. Freedom of speech.
It is unfortunate that he took his life rather than take responsibility? It is unfortunate he chose this solution? Well, Mr Staly, he probably knew he was going to prison, but he probably also knew, that AFTER prison, AFTER he did his time, and AFTER he should be a free man, the real punishment would come. Registering ever year (maybe more), and living in fear to forget and get sent back to prison, harassment by those who see you online, not finding jobs or housing because you are publicly listed, having LE show up at your door years after you supposedly did your time, being called a Sex offender, even though the registry is just administrative….should I go on, or does this give you a good idea as to why the 3-1/2 years in prison were the easy part?
““It is unfortunate that rather than accept responsibility for his crimes Mario decided to take his own life,” according to a statement from Staly. ” What Staly really is trying to say is “Darn, he took away all my sadistic pleasure of him and his family suffering”