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.
The report I heard this morning stated that 3 of the jurists said they were under pressure for a conviction and not told that a hung jury was an option, giving the two officers reason to file for appeal...
Johnny Sutton, US Attorney responsible for this.
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/us_attorney/index.html
[snip] Mr. Sutton also serves as the chairman of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) which plays a significant role in determining policies and programs of the Department and in carrying out the national goals set by the President and the Attorney General.
The AGAC consists of 17 members appointed by the Attorney General and represents different judicial circuits, various-sized offices, and expertise. Mr. Sutton also serves on the Border and Immigration Law Enforcement Subcommittee of the AGAC.
US Attorney Johnny SuttonPrior to becoming United States Attorney, Mr. Sutton served as an Associate Deputy Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., and as a Policy Coordinator for the Bush-Cheney Transition Team assigned to the Department of Justice.
Mr. Sutton served as the Criminal Justice Policy Director for then-Governor George W. Bush from 1995-2000, advising the Governor on all criminal justice issues, with specific oversight in the areas of criminal law, prison capacity and management, parole operations and legislative initiatives.
Prior to his service in the Governor’s office, Mr. Sutton worked as a criminal trial prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office (Houston, Texas) for eight years. As a prosecutor, he was lead trial counsel in over sixty felony cases, including numerous capital murder, aggravated robbery, and sexual assault cases. He is fluent in Spanish, having appeared as a television commentator for the Spanish language network Univision during the Selena homicide trial.
I haven't read the whole thread yet. Yep, this is a Bush judge appointee along with A. Gonzales.
You forgot to mention that he is married to a hispanic lady and loves Mexican food.
I noticed the Smokey Backroom location late last night.
I've heard that this judge dismissed the charge of the 3 jurors.
So, I take it you're OK with cops not reporting their employment of deadly force, and OK with cops destroying evidence.
No, but I'm apparently REALLY stupid to think that cops are expected to tell the truth.
#594 BTTT
Is that you, Mr. Dean?
Damn!
Damn!
This one ain't over.
I did not say I support the decision...far from it!
You are leaping to conclusions...and that's a sad fact.
I don't know the cast of lawyer characters...I'm not from the area. But what I do know is that law enforcement officials should not be allowed to get away with illegal acts like shooting someone in the back...even if he is a narco trafficker. I am not convinced that the agents are guilty but I wasn't there and others who were are keeping silent...agency climbers perhaps?
Johnny Sutton, US Attorney responsible for this.
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/us_attorney/index.html
[snip] Mr. Sutton also serves as the chairman of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) which plays a significant role in determining policies and programs of the Department and in carrying out the national goals set by the President and the Attorney General. The AGAC consists of 17 members appointed by the Attorney General and represents different judicial circuits, various-sized offices, and expertise. Mr. Sutton also serves on the Border and Immigration Law Enforcement Subcommittee of the AGAC. US Attorney Johnny SuttonPrior to becoming United States Attorney, Mr. Sutton served as an Associate Deputy Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., and as a Policy Coordinator for the Bush-Cheney Transition Team assigned to the Department of Justice. Mr. Sutton served as the Criminal Justice Policy Director for then-Governor George W. Bush from 1995-2000, advising the Governor on all criminal justice issues, with specific oversight in the areas of criminal law, prison capacity and management, parole operations and legislative initiatives. Prior to his service in the Governor’s office, Mr. Sutton worked as a criminal trial prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office (Houston, Texas) for eight years. As a prosecutor, he was lead trial counsel in over sixty felony cases, including numerous capital murder, aggravated robbery, and sexual assault cases. He is fluent in Spanish, having appeared as a television commentator for the Spanish language network Univision during the Selena homicide trial.
So what Bush basher!!! Agents who shoot someone and then don't report it are breaking the law!
Tell me truly: Do you want federal or any government level of agents to be given the right to shoot any piece of scum ("piece of dirt" according to Sutton)down there and not have to report back?
Double dare you to respond.
Boy, you just got the award for flying off half cocked! Posting something from the white house makes me a Bush basher? You're carrying on about crap I never mentioned.
I "double dare" you to kiss my ass.
Respond to the issues...I triple dare ya.
Here it is to make it easier:
Should agents have the right to shoot people and not report the incident?
Dimples Dobbs (and some angry kook types here) may think it's OK but most conservatives do not!
Good information about the US Attorney; thanks WIA.
No.
Now what?
And by the way, Ms. "Conservative", you're in the minority here and across the country if you think these agents deserved anything more than disiplinary action as provided by border patrol guidlines. They were doing their job protecting YOU!
So, I took your two dares, what do I get? More of your vitriol?
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