Posted on 10/19/2006 3:37:27 PM PDT by no dems
Edited on 10/19/2006 4:07:46 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Ex-border agents sentenced for shooting smuggler
AP
EL PASO, Texas -- Two former U.S. Border Patrol agents were each sentenced Thursday to more than a decade in federal prison for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler and then trying to cover it up.
Ignacio Ramos was sentenced to 11 years and one day, and Jose Alonso Compean was sentenced to 12 years. Both were fired after their convictions on several charges including assault with a deadly weapon, obstruction of justice, and a civil rights violation.
The men, neither of whom spoke in court, will be allowed to turn themselves in Jan. 17.
The agents have proclaimed their innocence in the Feb. 17, 2005, shooting of admitted drug smuggler Osvlado Aldrete Davila.
Aldrete was shot in the buttocks as he fled across the Rio Grande into Mexico after a confrontation with Ramos and Compean. The agents said they shot in self defense, but prosecutors charged that they had no reason to shoot at the fleeing man, who later claimed he was unarmed.
Since their convictions, support for the agents has swelled. Several prominent law makers, including U.S. Rep. James Sensenbrenner, the Wisconsin Republican who chairs the House judiciary committee, have even called for a Congressional investigation into the agents' prosecutions.
The union representing most rank and file Border Patrol agents established a legal defense fund. And civilian border watch groups have asked the U.S. Attorney General's office to review the case and throw out the jury's guilty verdicts.
Though it's none of your business, my degree is not in the liberal arts. I was answering a question asked by another freeper, not bragging.
Have a nice evening.
They can say he was throwing his voice from his crotch in his report if the DOJ wants to.
Facts are these guys didn't have a hair trigger record, they gave chase to this guy, he to them looked like he was carrying and turned from them.
They shot him and the bastard still ran away to Mexico before we chased him down.
The DOJ took the extraordinary step to believe the Mexican drug cartel dealer over the officers in this case, despite the huge haul of drugs he had on him.
This is retarded.
So if you don't believe the DOJ report, what source are you using to get your information about this case?
They only made their report after the IG asked "WTF?"
That the IG didn't agree with it, and brought charges, IMO, is an injustice.
Your local police and prosecutor would cheerfully rack & stack you for twenty years if you were to do the same thing.
No, of course not.
Didn't you know? It's ALWAYS justified if the person is illegal. /sarcasm
MfromO: Why in the hell would you make such a comment to me? Is there anywhere, on any thread, where I have exhibited in any way such an attitude?
Clearly, this wasn't the rogue throw-down-weapon type of crime by these guys. And the madness of the payout being made to the perp adds insult to injury.
I have stated many times that I have zero issues with those who desire to better themselves, and America, by their presence here. It is those who flaunt their criminality and demand a special justice that throw me. I'm tired of victim politics and double standards.
Impeach Alberto ("traitor") Gonzales! Terrible injustice that will continue send the wrong message to lawbreakers.
I was taught that shooting someone is the back is a no no. This looks like extremely bad judgement on their part. However, I agree that the sentence is ridiculous.
A lib anti war on drugs site says they were offered 18 mos in a plea bargain. Maybe someone else could find a more reliable link on that.
I'll wager other Texas FReepers do not share you emotional view.
E.g., a Vermont judge isn't going to get appointed to a Texas district.
So, even if appointed by W., the judge is likely to be a Democrat, given it's El Paso. He would've been supported, if not sponsored, by the Congressman for the district -- who is a Democrat.
This is nothing more than some Mexican ass kissing like we're also doing with Dog the bounty hunter.
http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=3018
Cardone, Kathleen
Born 1953 in Medina, NY
Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. District Court, Western District of Texas Nominated by George W. Bush on May 1, 2003, to a new seat created by 116 Stat. 1758; Confirmed by the Senate on July 28, 2003, and received commission on July 29, 2003.
"The world is upside down."
Truth.
Thank you.
Unfortunately common sense doesn't have a place on this thread.
That required a write-off by Alberto Gonzales too.
No problem sendng that bad boy to the can for 20 years (10 years each crime) for the gun part.
Only question is "W" send Alberto out to do his time.
So, you're saying that if an intruder came into my house and I shot him, he subsequently got away, and before the police came I decided to pick up my shell casings they would arrest me and put me away for twenty years? Don't think so. Not in my community. They wouldn't even care about the shell casings, get my statement, and hopefully find the creep dead.
Your thinking, and the IG's is screwed up, IMO.
Well, these two didn't even file a report until the IG asked them what the hell had happened.
If you were to shoot an intruder in your home, not make a police report until the neighbors called the cops, and you were to sterilize the site of the shooting, your local police and prosecutor would be looking to put you away for twenty. If the shootee were to turn up dead, you'd be locked up for life on Murder One.
Again, more mandatory time on the range.
It's what malcontents do best. Years of practice. Maybe even a lifetime of practice.
The jury rendered the verdict. Or is that not helpful to your agenda?
Firing 15 shots at an unarmed civilian, no matter who they are, is not upholding the law.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.