Accused child rapist hangs himself in jail

SANJOSE » A Korean-American inmate charged with multiple counts of raping a child under 10 years old hanged himself Thursday morning at Elmwood jail in Milpitas, sources said.

The 72-year-oldman, Jae Bong Yang, was discovered in his cell.

In a news release with scant details, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the apparent jail suicide, the first of the new year.

“While a thorough investigation is underway, the preliminary indicators of the investigation are the person took intentional actions, while in his cell with the purpose of taking his own life,” according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.

The inmate had been in custody for three days.

The man was supposed to be arraigned Wednesday, but the hearing was postponed until today because no Korean interpreter was available until then, sources said.

He was booked on 10 counts of sexual intercourse with a minor under 10.

This particular childmolestation charge is among the most serious in California — so much so that it is called a “one strike and you are out” crime, according to the Shouse California Law Group, which represents criminal defendants.

If he had been convicted, he would have faced a life sentence.