Child Molester's Deal Means Life in Prison
Ex-fugitive Thomas Bertinuson's plea spares his former victims from having to testify in court; parole is unlikely
By Claire Booth, for the CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Originally published in the Contra Costa Times, August 3, 2002
MARTINEZ — A former Moraga foster parent found hiding from child molestation charges in South America agreed Friday to a deal that will mean life in prison.
Thomas Bertinuson pleaded guilty Friday in Contra Costa Superior Court to 51 counts of child molestation. He had been scheduled to stand trial Monday on more than twice that many charges.
In exchange for Bertinuson's plea, prosecutors will ask that the 54-year-old be sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. If convicted by a jury of all 106 charges filed against him, he would have faced more than 1,000 years to life in prison, said deputy district attorney Kirk Andrus.
Bertinuson had seven victims; his actions spanned more than 25 years. The victims agreed to the plea agreement, which eliminated the need for them to testify in open court, Andrus said.
"It's particularly important in this case to protect the victims and comply with their wishes," Andrus said. "He was literally the parent for some of these kids."
Federal agents brought Bertinuson back to California last year, after Chilean authorities found him in their country.
He was a mentor during the 1970s and 1980s to three boys, whom he molested. He then took in three foster sons and also molested them. One victim was molested over a four-year period, according to court records. The seventh victim was a girl.
"He's very sorry—very, very sorry," said his attorney, Dennis Ruel.
The former PG&E worker fled the United States in 1999, after one of his victims came forward to police.
The Times does not name victims of sexual molestation or assault.
Bertinuson, a slight, frail-looking man with glasses, answered Judge Garrett Grant's questions in a low voice during his plea Friday. He will remain in custody at County Jail until his sentencing next month.
Bertinuson will be eligible for parole in 12 years and nine months, Andrus said, but he added that it is unlikely a parole board will release him because of the number of victims and severity of the crimes.
"We wouldn't have offered him that (sentence) except that 15 to life means just what it says, and this is a life sentence for him," Andrus said.
