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Robert Telles

Released
Gender:Male
Race:Hispanic
Era:1940s
State:California
Support
Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee (defense)
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Biography

Mexican-American youth convicted of second-degree murder in the mass Sleepy Lagoon trial of January 1943, following the August 1942 death of José Díaz at a Los Angeles County reservoir. The case became a focus of organizing by the Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee. Convictions of all twelve defendants were reversed by the California District Court of Appeal in October 1944.

Case

San Quentin State Prison
Charges: Second-degree murder of José Díaz
Arrested: Aug 2, 1942
Released: Oct 23, 1944
Sentence: 5 years to life Verdict as recorded: Yes — conviction reversed in People v. Zammora (1944)
Convicted: Yes
Institution State: California