Key West man gets 40 years for attacking 3-year-old girl with saw
Christopher Farrell had an arrest history long before the attack on the child.
BY SEAN KINNEY
KeysNet.com
A Key West man convicted of attempted murder of a 3-year-old girl in a 2008 attack has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Christopher Farrell, 50, was arrested Oct. 1, 2010, on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.
He attacked Sonia Romero and her then 3-year-old daughter with a 10.5-inch tree saw near William and Southard streets.
Old Town resident David Lybrand was passing by, saw the attack and fought Farrell off. Police quickly arrested Farrell and Lybrand went on to receive the Key West Police Department's Good Samaritan Award. A six-person jury on Thursday spent less than half an hour deliberating before finding Farrell guilty of all charges.
County Judge Wayne Miller subsequently handed down a sentence of 40 years, 30 for the attempted murder and 10 for the other two felonies.
Assistant State Attorney Colleen Dunne prosecuted while Farrell opted to represent himself. Lybrand testified during the two-day trial.
According to police, Farrell attacked the mother and daughter — who was wearing her St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School uniform at the time — "without warning or provocation."
He grabbed the child and pushed her to the ground, then held the tree saw to her face and threatened to cut her head off. She sustained cuts on her cheek, neck and ear from the teeth of the blade, according to reports.
Records maintained by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office indicate Farrell was arrested previously in 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005 on a variety of charges, including aggravated stalking, probation violation, making false calls to 911 and resisting arrest.
Christopher Farrell, 50, was arrested Oct. 1, 2010, on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.
He attacked Sonia Romero and her then 3-year-old daughter with a 10.5-inch tree saw near William and Southard streets.
Old Town resident David Lybrand was passing by, saw the attack and fought Farrell off. Police quickly arrested Farrell and Lybrand went on to receive the Key West Police Department's Good Samaritan Award. A six-person jury on Thursday spent less than half an hour deliberating before finding Farrell guilty of all charges.
County Judge Wayne Miller subsequently handed down a sentence of 40 years, 30 for the attempted murder and 10 for the other two felonies.
Assistant State Attorney Colleen Dunne prosecuted while Farrell opted to represent himself. Lybrand testified during the two-day trial.
According to police, Farrell attacked the mother and daughter — who was wearing her St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School uniform at the time — "without warning or provocation."
He grabbed the child and pushed her to the ground, then held the tree saw to her face and threatened to cut her head off. She sustained cuts on her cheek, neck and ear from the teeth of the blade, according to reports.
Records maintained by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office indicate Farrell was arrested previously in 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005 on a variety of charges, including aggravated stalking, probation violation, making false calls to 911 and resisting arrest.
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