Posted on 07/07/2010 7:42:39 AM PDT by MissTed
Admitted thieves are going free, while an elderly Wheat Ridge man is facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars, all, he says, for trying to defend his property and his life.
82-year-old Robert Wallace said in February that he looked out his window and saw two men hooking his flatbed trailer up to their pickup. He yelled at them to stop, but they sped away, stealing his trailer. He told police he fired two shots at the pickup.
Minutes later, police say 32-year-old Damacio Torres dropped 28-year-old Alvaro Cardona off at a hospital emergency room with a gunshot wound to the face.
Torres did not stay to talk with police, but they caught up with him later. According to court documents, he admitted he and Cardona stole the trailer.
Wallace did not want to talk on camera, but when we asked him if the two men threatened him he said, "They almost ran me over."
The Jefferson County DA's office said that neither Torres nor Cardona have been charged with anything at this point, even though Torres confessed to the crime. However, the homeowner, Wallace is facing twelve felony counts, including four counts of attempted first degree murder. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Sources say Torres and Cardona are believed to be in the country illegally and both have an arrest record. Cardona's record includes public fighting and numerous traffic offenses like driving without a license or insurance. Torres's record includes agricultural trespassing as well as a 2005 arrest for aggravated motor vehicle theft for which he was given a plea bargain to a lesser crime. Sources say Torres is also under investigation for being part of a major auto theft ring.
Wallace is out on bond and due back in court in September to enter his plea.
Neighbors say the thieves should be the ones facing charges and Wallace should be given an award for protecting the neighborhood.
Just doing the jobs Americans won't do. < / WSJ >
Selective enforcement. Attempting to run someone over is attempted murder. You can be charged with using a vehicle as a weapon.
This was self-defense and the prosecution is open Nifongism.
Got to keep the sheeple in line.
Waiting for the "Property isn't worth killing some one over" apologist in 5, 4, 3, 2.....
You spend your life to acquire your property. Someone stealing your property is stealing a portion of your life. Using deadly force against a thief is moral and should be legal as well.
Tag and release. Law enforcement wants revenue tickets, not lockups.
After they were released on the first charges, they should have been deported.
But don't you know cops believe illegals are exempt.
Let me guess. The Denver DA is a democrat. If this goes to a jury, the guy will be found not guilty. But putting him through this is ludicrous.
Ironically what this guy did is PERFECTLY legal in Texas.
Stealing the trailers Americans won’t steal. Enduring the facial gunshot wounds that Americans won’t endure.
SnakeDoc
So they have rap sheets going back at least five years and the law doesn't even care to know if they are in the country illegally?
Here are the Senators who voted against the Cornyn amendment , which would have established a permanent bar for gang members, terrorists, and other criminals looking to snag a shamnesty visa. Republicans underlined:
Never forget McCain not only pushed the amnesty bill, he refused to allow exclusions for the worst of the lot.
He might be a Democrat, but Chuck Rosenthal in Houston was a Republican who did just this sort of thing. He also ignored state law which permitted carrying a gun in your car saying he would let the defendent fight his charges all the way to the Texas Supreme Court.
So glad he's gone.
Peter, was the old racist that shot at the two men have a license to carry a firearm? He likely also was breaking the law for having a trailer parked on the right of way? It\'s illegal in Jeff Co and most jurisdictions to have a trailer parked on the street longer than so many hours... He\'s probably one of those typical traffic violators that robs right of way with their crap. An 80 yo does not need a trailer in the middle of a city.
Unbelievable!
The link: http://www.khow.com/pages/boyles.html
Yes the DA probably knows he will not get a conviction but wants to bankrupt the man with legal bills to teach him a lesson.
Our ruling overlords had better be careful with these abuses of power. The people are getting tired of being bullied.
Not ironic at all. Texas is a free state, at least for now.
As do FReepers! I'd just add that the surviving perp should be made to pay this man lots of money if in any way possible, and then be tossed off a boat in the southern tip of Meh Hee Kough!
What’s ironic about it? That’s one of the reasons I moved to Texas!
Paging Carl Drega...
I want to be on his jury!
A thief has no greater right to my property than I have to his life.
ML/NJ
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