Mission creep. 'Pod
Posted on 04/09/2004 5:15:30 AM PDT by AlbertWang
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A transient accused in a shootout with two U.S. Forest Service employees was indicted Thursday on federal charges of attempted murder.
James R. Ballesteros, 57, is accused of shooting at the employees March 25 near the border of Trinity and Humboldt counties in northwestern California.
Prosecutors said Stephen Frick, a law enforcement officer with the agency, questioned Ballesteros outside a store in Zenia after noticing the van he was driving had expired Washington license tags. Ballesteros allegedly drove off, with Frick and technician Nicholas Roe in pursuit in their Forest Service truck.
After the van hit an earthen berm on a Forest Service road, Ballesteros got out with an M-1 assault rifle and a .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol, according to an FBI affidavit filed in federal court in Sacramento.
The Forest Service employees opened fire after Ballesteros aimed his weapon at them, the affidavit says. An FBI spokeswoman wouldn't say how many shots they fired or if they hit anything, citing the ongoing investigation and evidence analysis.
Ballesteros fired at least six rounds from the rifle, then fired the pistol at the employees crouched behind the doors of their truck, according to the affidavit. The bullets shattered the truck's windows and pierced the door frame.
Ballesteros then drove off again, the affidavit alleges. He was stopped by Mendocino County sheriff's deputies and surrendered.
Ballesteros is being held without bail pending an April 19 arraignment. The charges carry a maximum 30 years in prison.
--
I guess Smokey the Bear traded his shovel for a Glot.
Seriously, even though I have no use for pistol packing bums who shoot at cops, why was a Federal Enployeee (under the USDA) messing with an expired plate charge?
| Rank | Location | Receipts | Donors/Avg | Freepers/Avg | Monthlies | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | Ireland | 50.00 |
1 |
50.00 |
24 |
2.08 |
|
|
Thanks for donating to Free Republic!
Move your locale up the leaderboard!
Mission creep. 'Pod
This shows the reporters agenda clearly. He meant to say 'automatic-hi-capacity-magazined-racist-homophobic-antichoice-Republican-Christian-fundamentalist-shoot-up-the-school-yard M-1 assault rifle'.
I hate it when they leave me hanging like that. Could've been any three of these guns.
M-1 Garand
M-1 Carbine
M-1A
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.