Accused killers' bail request denied

BY MENSAH M. DEAN, deanm@phillynews.com 215-854-5949
Posted: February 09, 2012

THE THREE men charged with murder in the beating death of a recent Temple University graduate Jan. 14 in the historic district will have a preliminary hearing April 4, a judge ruled yesterday.

Defendants Steven Ferguson, 20, of Fox Chase; Kenneth Santiago, 19, of Juniata Park; and Felix Carrillo, 23, of Olney, are being held without bail in the death of Kevin Kless, 23.

Defense Attorney Scott Sigman, who represents Carrillo, asked Municipal Judge Teresa Carr Deni to allow his client to be released on bail or house arrest so he can care for his mother, who has cancer.

Sigman said that Carrillo has no prior criminal convictions, is employed as a truck driver in the city and has strong family ties in the city.

The lawyer noted the 15 relatives who came to court to support the defendant, who was not present.

Assistant District Attorney Brendan O'Malley countered that the state Constitution presumes that those charged with first- or second-degree murder - which carry sentences of life without parole - should be held for trial without bail.

Carr Deni denied Sigman's request.

"This is hard for us, it's hard to accept because that's not him," Carrillo's father, Felix Carrillo Sr., 49, said after the hearing. "I'm just shocked."

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