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.
No. Do you believe criminal foreign nationals invading our territory have more rights than those who are charged with protecting our country?
Simcox is doing fine. Your buddy I have no idea about.
At least until IRS judgement day.
What part of idiotic laws and suicidal policies don't YOU understand. If it were up to me, I'd fold the Border Patrol into the Coast Gard and give them military training and weapons. The Order of the Day would be "When in doubt, shoot to kill." I'd quadruple their numbers and have them patrol in groups of no less than five troopers. Failure to aggressively pursue and apprehend suspected illegals would be grounds for immediate dismissal.
Removing evidence and lying on reports has always been illegal for all LEOs.
I'd fold the Border Patrol into the Coast Gard and give them military training and weapons.
I'd bust the Border Patrol's Union. They're a big part of the problem.
No. Did you support Lon Horiuchi doing the same things that these agents did--destroying evidence and not providing a full and proper account of his actions, followed by giving a self-serving version of events that seems to be at some variance with what actually happened--at Ruby Ridge and Waco? Or is justice a matter of the victim of wrongdoing being from a group you like versus being from a group you dislike?
What the agents said at the time, and what they said later, are two very different things. Both cannot be simultaneously true. Further, what information is available does not support either version of events. Therefore, the two agents lied about what happened in at least one, and most likely both, of their statements. Lie to me once, and I'm not giving you the benefit of the doubt after that.
That's the first and biggest problem. They shouldn't be "LEOs", they should be soldiers with wide leeway at the borders.
"I'd bust the Border Patrol's Union. They're a big part of the problem."
Now they're part of the military as they should be. Problem solved!
If they were guilty of an offense warranting a decade in prison why offer such a deal? Why was Border Patrol Agent Blanchette not allowed to testify for the defense? When Agent Blanchette expressed concern over Agent Sanchez's reliabiltiy why was he asked to give up his weapon? Why did the government ignore Rene Sanchez's illegal investigation into this case? Then there's the issue of Aldrete's close friendship with Chris Sanchez, the only investigator in this case. This is just of the tip of the iceberg.
Guilty or not these agents apparently went through a trial fraught with government corruption. Just as falsifying reports and picking up brass casts doubts upon the agents credibility so does malfeasance cast doubt upon the government's case. Considering your fervent support for illegal aliens this of course, means nothing to you.
Source it or hush, Dishonest Agent.
Just as the party-above-principle Big Tent RINOs wanted it. No surprises here.
Your parallels stink.
A) Horiuchi KILLED Americans. These guys put a bullet in the butt of a criminal foreign national invader in the course of their duties. Can you see the difference?
B) Misconduct is easily dealt with administratively or by firing. Ten years in prison in this case is a gross miscarriage of justice.
I never trust anyone who wishes IRS action on any American. Your true colors are showing.
This calls for a presidential pardon, but since Vicente Fox is running the show, it might take GWB to grow a spine to do it.
They're all one party now - the Republicrats.
Yeah, this Big Tent GOP/RNC mantra is blowing kind of hollow for me too. Of course, I'm still trying to figure out how massive unchecked illegal immigration with no border security squares with the War on Terror. Apparently, security is essential in Iraq but not on our southern border. I'll raise my hand when I come up with an answer...
Full stop here. The only support for the claim that this was done in the course of their duties (as opposed to another, less benign interpretation) is the agents themselves, and they've already demonstrated that their integrity is nonexistent.
You are placing your trust in the word of two confirmed liars.
Can you see the difference?
So, if Lon Horiuchi lies about his actions, it's bad, because he killed people you like. If Ramos and Compean lie about their actions, it's good--because they were shooting at people you dislike.
I'm Kantian in my ethics. You cannot formulate "lie about one's actions and conceal evidence" as universal laws.
Misconduct is easily dealt with administratively or by firing.
Doing this as a civilian would get you twenty years; you advocate exempting the police from the laws they are sword to uphold.
Give me another link to the poll please. I must have missed it.
You are illiterate. Saying something is plausible is not the same as denial. I've stated on many occasions that it's possible they could have done what they are accused of. Considering the reports of government misconduct as well as my personal experience with government obstruction I'm biased towards the agents' assertion that they acted in self defense.
You can't be truthful.
Link my "wish".
You're a disgrace.
You floated a theory that he shot himself, and proved yourself severely uninformed here.
You're a Union due paying apologist, sickening.
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.