A domestic violence case against Orange County Master Deputy Bryan Villella has been sent to the Florida state attorney’s office to determine the possibility of criminal charges. On March 2, Villella was ordered by the court to obey a one-year “no hostile contact” injunction concerning Joel Carrion, his partner of four years. After several weeks of asking for progress on the case, Carrion was finally informed on May 10 of the state’s pending investigation.
“We cannot investigate ourselves in the case of criminal charges,” clarified Orange County Sheriff’s Office media relations rep Jeff Williamson. “That would be up to the state attorney’s office in each and every case involving an officer.”
Williamson also pointed out that an internal investigation will also proceed against Villella after the state makes its findings. The sheriff’s office will determine if Villella disregarded any of its own internal ethics policies and procedures.
It’s been a frustrating journey for ex-boyfriend Carrion, who grew increasingly concerned that the sheriff’s office was dragging its feet to protect Villella, who Carrion said was once referred to as one of Orange County’s “valiant officers.”
In a letter to media dated April 13, Carrion started, “I cannot help but think that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is stalling yet again.”
Carrion continues: “They have had all the information since June 9, 2009. A second round of information was submitted to them and to the courts by Feb. 24, and then the court proceedings on March 2. The last witness was interviewed by them almost one month ago.”
In a May 4 e-mail to Watermark offices, Carrion again vented his frustration: “I did not get the courtesy of a reply, and truthfully, I wasn’t expecting one. They swept everything under the carpet, as I said they would all along.”
In fact, in a March 15 interview with Watermark—nearly two months ago—Orange County Sheriff’s Captain Angelo Nieves had stated, “We should know something in the next couple of weeks.”
There was no explanation offered for the delay between the March 2 court date and the May 10 communication to Carrion. Neives did not return a call or an e-mail requesting comment by press time.
A few days before his no-contact hearing, Carrion expressed concern that the whole process has been protracted. He first filed charges against Villella in spring 2009. Carrion said he felt the Orange County Sheriff’s Office didn’t take his report seriously until Villella was also caught in uniform having semi-public sex with a GayDays guest at last year’s June festivities. Off-duty, Villella had been hired as security at Royal Palms Resort. While working, Villella was found by hotel employees in an empty conference room with the guest. Orange County’s Sherriff’s office suspended Villella for 120 hours and put the officer on one-year probation.
Now, Villella also faces allegations that he physically abused Carrion, even forcing his partner at gunpoint to clean up his own blood after one altercation.
Judge Kest’s “no hostile contact” court order does allow Villella to continue to work while the criminal inquiries and a sheriff’s office internal investigation proceed. However, the judge refused to hear argument to let Villella to carry his gun off-duty.
This is not the first time Villella has been investigated by his employers. His five-year marriage to Helen Mackenzie ended after she made claims of domestic abuse. In 2002, Villella was reprimanded for transferring $552 from his ex-wife’s bank account to his own.
Official sheriff’s reports state “It is clear Villella and Ms. Mackenzie have a history of domestic disturbances.”
In the April 13 letter, Carrion said he was still “concerned for my own safety, while Mr. Villella continues to be allowed to work as a law enforcer.”
