Border Patrol supervisor facing sex charge

My SanAntonio ^ | 01/08/2004 | Jesse Bogan

[joesnuffy]

Border Patrol supervisor facing sex charge

By Jesse Bogan Express-News Border Bureau

Web Posted : 01/08/2004 12:00 AM

LAREDO —— A U.S. Border Patrol supervisor accused of soliciting sexual favors from an undocumented immigrant in the back of his patrol vehicle has been charged with official oppression.

William Ferrone, 39, of the 4000 block of Calle Puebla surrendered to Webb County authorities Wednesday and was released after posting $5,000 bond.

Speaking in his front yard, Ferrone denied the accusation.

"I've served my community for a long time, and to be accused of something like this is not right," said Ferrone, who is married with children. "I've never had an accusation of anything.

"I am sure after it gets looked into, the truth will come to light. This is not something that I did nor would I ever do."

The alleged victim, who lives in Laredo, told police an agent stopped her Dec. 26 around 1:15 a.m. in the 400 block of San Eduardo Avenue to check her immigration status, according to an arrest affidavit. She told him she was here illegally and didn't have documentation.

The agent allowed the 26-year-old woman to leave her vehicle at her home before taking her into custody. She told police he then stopped under a railroad overpass and asked the woman in Spanish, "How can we fix this?" then caressed her on the thigh and face.

The woman said she agreed to meet the agent later and was left at an Exxon gas station, where she sought help from the clerk, who contacted police. When the agent returned, the woman said she told him to leave, and he did.

Ferrone, restricted to administrative duties pending the outcome of the case, told police Dec. 31 that he stopped the woman, but he denied making any advances. He said he dropped her off at the gas station so a friend could bring her documents.

A warrant for Ferrone's arrest was issued Monday. He has been charged with official oppression.

Al Moreno, a senior Border Patrol agent who oversees the agency's intelligence division in Laredo, said ethics are taught during agent training, and that "from time to time we will do refreshers."

"Any time something like this happens, it's not just a blemish on the Border Patrol, it's a blemish on law enforcement," he said. "Hopefully this won't be portrayed as the image of the agency or of those who risk their lives every day to protect the integrity of our borders."

jbogan@express-news.net

01/08/2004

[Support Free Republic]

Free Republic Rocks, Big Time!
	Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD- It is in the breaking news sidebar!

[TSgt]

undocumented immigrant = illegal alien

Is this what people mean when they talk about jobs that American's don't want?

[Mamzelle]

Smells like a setup--law enforcement needs chaperons just to protect themselves these days.

[dagnabbit]

I cannot imagine that morale has been too high within the USBP since learning yesterday from the President that illegal aliens were heroes, and that the laws the BP gets killed enforcing are bogus and to be swept away.

[Ajnin]

He said he dropped her off at the gas station so a friend could bring her documents.

Didn't she say that she was an illegal alien? If she admitted to being in the country illegally then there would be no need for her to wait for documents. If what she said was true then she should have been taken into custody, transported to the station and processed.

[Ajnin]

It's becuase of this exact type of incident, that agents are supposed to tell their radio dispatch, the number of females they have in custody, their location, starting and ending vehicle mileage.