CARLSBAD — A 24-year-old man accused of sexually molesting a teen on the grounds of a Carlsbad elementary school will have to stand trial on charges that could net him a decade behind bars, a Superior Court judge ruled July 23.
Leo Burns Welnick pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of forcible oral copulation, kidnapping and oral copulation by a person over 21 on someone under 16 stemming from a June 25 encounter with a 15-year-old Carlsbad girl at Magnolia Elementary School.
At the request of defense attorney Brad Patton, Judge K. Michael Kirkman reduced Welnick’s bail by $75,000 to $125,000 citing he felt the reduction reflected the evidence presented at the preliminary hearing.
Patton told the judge his client is a Carlsbad local with strong family ties to the area. Further, he said Welnick, who has no prior criminal record, suffers from bipolar disorder.
The victim testified she and her teenage female friend were having a conversation on the school’s grounds about performing oral sex, when they noticed Welnick approaching with his unleashed dog. After Welnick made a comment to the girls about taking sex education, the victim said she and her friend proceeded to the “kindergarten playground” to continue their conversation in private.
As the girls walked to the playground, the victim said she found some duct tape and a mirror on the ground, and after she sat the mirror down a short time later the girls noticed Welnick was following them after he made a comment to them.
Welnick approached the girls again as they talked on a cement pipe near the playground, the victim said. This time he asked them their ages, which they told him and then the victim asked his age. Noticing the victim was making a bracelet out of the duct tape, she said Welnick asked for one.
As she made the bracelet, the victim’s friend left for a second time to take a phone call, the teen testified. Prior to the girl leaving, both teens recognized Welnick, who was wearing a sweatshirt and board shorts, had an erection, the victim said.
Now that Welnick and the victim were alone, she testified Welnick started rubbing up against her leg and then grabbed her legs and wrapped them around his waist and carried her to a more secluded section of the school grounds. He then dropped the girl to the ground and as she got on her knees to get up he grabbed her head and forced her to perform oral sex on him.
Patton asked the teenager why she didn’t run away as Welnick dropped his shorts and took off his sweatshirt to which she replied that she was afraid and unsure what he would do to her if she ran or screamed.
“I was too scared to make any kind of motion,” the victim said.
The victim’s friend testified when she returned from her phone call, she saw Welnick exiting the school grounds and then met up with the victim who was “shaking and crying.” She said there were visible signs that oral copulation had occurred. Further, the friend said the victim showed her the spot where she vomited afterward.
However, there was a discrepancy in the teens’ testimony about how long the victim was alone with Welnick.
The friend testified she only left once to take a phone, not twice like the victim said, during which time she hung out in a partially enclosed tunnel talking on her phone and listening to an iPod for approximately 30 minutes. She also said she texted the victim while she was away only to get a nonchalant reply.
A trial date was set for Sept. 28.
previous post
15 comments
Anon 1234 ,You are obviously both biased toward the perpatraitor
and ignorant to the law . This was a minor,you have no right doing any sexual act with a 15 yr old child period. What they were talking about,how long they were on the phone and what was text is irrelavant. Welnick is a pedophile (admitedly) and he will have to register as such for the rest of his life, after he does his time and gets what he deserves.There is no place for pedophiles or people who sympothize with them.Please crawl back under the rock from which you came.
Obvious Anon1234..easy as that? The evidence is why he plea bargained,as well as admitting to it.. Believing everything you read, and writing a response, that is pure ignorance, obviously you have no children and no idea of what you respond to. Of course he should have to register for life, he broke the law, and when he does get out it’s to keep people aware of his whereabouts, so as to keep him from striking again!! C’mon people..? We’re talking about a sick individual, maybe your one too Anon?
Its obvious here….not guilty, these girls are talkin about the matter. Girls were curious and knew what they were doing. Texting during the act, going off and listening to music for thirty minutes, come on people. Look at the evidence not what this girl said.
Should this guy be required to register as a sex offender?
Im not sure what you’re point is, but I just thought you were freaking out a little there buddy. What does me “growing a set” have to do with anything??
Jesus..?How do you know I’m a dude…grow a set, anonymous…it’s just this kind of sentiment, that has allowed our society to fail..time stand up for what is right and protect the innocent little ones..
Jesus dude. Calm down!!
Hey Kalp…where you at now..? finish your coverage of this case…this sick bastard pleaded guilty..everyone should know..so as to be informed of his future whereabouts, when he finally is released, and make sure he’s a life time registered sex offender..follow through already
Justice is served…GUILTY,GUILTY,GUILTY!!!
Randy Kalp is a complete douche bag for writing this article! Justice will occur in court in sept!
A preliminary hearing could be defined as such… “Usually held soon after arraignment, a preliminary hearing is best described as a “trial before the trial” at which the judge decides, not whether the defendant is “guilty” or “not guilty,” but whether there is enough evidence to force the defendant to stand trial. In making this determination, the judge uses the “probable cause” legal standard, deciding whether the government (or prosecutor) has produced enough evidence to convince a reasonable jury that the defendant committed the crime(s) charged.”
This is probably the first in a long series of articles on this case. Were only in the prelim phase, folks!! Welnick will have his chance in court!!
Anyone could sit in on this public trial and here anything Kalp wrote…don’t you people ever read other newspapers? The newspapers don’t make this stuff up and if the man is found innocent, they will report that too.
This is an incredibly irresponsible article. Whatever happened to the professional journalist code of ethics? Randy Kalp obviously wasn’t considering a suspect’s fair trail rights when writing this article.
This is an entirely irresponsible article considering there is a trial pending. The author should be prosecuted for revealing any details of this event prior to trial ,this family of the PREDATOR obviously has connections with this corrupt paper. The district attorney will be notified.
all defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Comments are closed.