Holyoke, Massachusetts – Wilmer Puello-Mota, a former city councilor, has reportedly evaded his trial on child pornography charges by fleeing the country. Puello-Mota, who had aspirations for a political career, believed that the criminal charges had ruined his life, according to his lawyer David Cicilline. Fearing a bleak future in his hometown, Puello-Mota opted to join the Russian army instead. The case has gained global attention after a video surfaced, showing Puello-Mota signing a contract to join the Russian armed services.
Puello-Mota had been facing charges of possession of child pornography after police discovered explicit photos and videos on his phone. The materials involved a 17-year-old girl with whom he had communicated online and provided money to. Puello-Mota claimed he believed the girl was 22. He initially called the police to report a stolen firearm, which led to the discovery of the illegal content on his phone. Puello-Mota’s lawyer argues that this case is different from typical child pornography cases, contending that there was no sexual or criminal activity involved.
However, Puello-Mota’s legal troubles didn’t stop there. In 2022, while serving as a security forces technical sergeant, he was accused of impersonating his commander during a call with a prosecutor and forging documents in an attempt to clear his name. These actions resulted in additional charges of obstruction of the judicial system, forgery, and counterfeiting.
Despite the mounting legal challenges, Puello-Mota remained on the Holyoke City Council until the end of his term, as a judge ruled that the council had no authority to remove him without a conviction. However, Puello-Mota finally faced a plea agreement that required him to plead guilty to all charges in exchange for an 18-month prison sentence. But on the day before his scheduled court appearance, Puello-Mota informed his lawyer that he had fled to Russia.
Puello-Mota’s sudden departure not only surprised his lawyer but also left his family and young daughter behind. Cicilline, his attorney, believes that Puello-Mota’s decision to escape stemmed from the fear of having to register as a sex offender upon conviction. Despite the possibility of Puello-Mota returning and surrendering to authorities, Cicilline doubts it will happen.
In light of Puello-Mota’s absence, prosecutors have requested to depose the minor victim in the case to prevent any miscarriage of justice in the event she becomes unavailable for trial. However, the trial cannot proceed without Puello-Mota’s presence, as he has the constitutional right to face and cross-examine his accuser.
Shelley Murphy is a Globe Staff writer contributing to this report.