Posted on 04/20/2005 8:12:21 AM PDT by flashbunny
Father Eleazar Perez, who lost his left leg in a hit-and-run accident, walked into court on one leg and crutches Tuesday and pleaded for leniency for the man who ran into him. It was an extraordinary court scene that the judge, prosecutor and defense attorney called unprecedented in their careers for the tragic circumstances, the remorse of the defendant and the unconditional forgiveness and petition for mercy from the victim.
It was also a case filled with irony, said Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Conen. If Marco Parra-Romero, 19, had stopped after his car struck the priest, instead of running, he would not have been charged with a felony. And he would not be facing deportation back to Mexico.
But Parra-Romero said he fled the scene because he's undocumented and feared deportation. He crossed the border at age 17 to come to the United States to work to send money home to his mother and for the chance at a better life.
"I was afraid," he said in Spanish through a court translator.
After pleading guilty to hit and run causing great bodily harm on the night of Jan. 9, he apologized to the state and the entire community. But most of all he asked for forgiveness from Perez, his family and the community of St. Adalbert Catholic Church on the city's south side. He apologized for fleeing the scene. And he said that when he returns to Mexico, he will do whatever he can to make amends to Perez.
"I came to this country out of need. I never imagined this would happen," he said, his face filled with gloom.
Parra-Romero faced a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
But Assistant District Attorney Thomas Potter and defense attorney Eduardo Borda asked Conen that Parra-Romero be sentenced to the time that he's served since his arrest, which is 99 days in prison.
Conen agreed, and Parra-Romero will be deported. Borda said his client won't fight the deportation. (Because he can just walk right back over the border again)
Conen said that during his eight years as a judge and 13 years as a criminal attorney, "nothing like this case has ever crossed my desk." Potter and Borda agreed.
All sides agreed that this was an accident caused not by recklessness or meanness, but poor winter road conditions.
But the biggest consideration in handing down a sentence was the wishes of the victim, Conen said.
In a prepared letter to the court, Perez expressed his forgiveness. He said he did not want restitution, but leniency.
"In some respects, I have nothing to forgive, as this accident could have happened to anyone," he said in Spanish through a translator. "This experience has helped me practice what I preach and has brought me even closer to God. My journey since the day of the accident has been one of forgiveness and complete surrender. I have surrendered everything up to God's healing power. I have no hard feelings toward Mr. Parra-Romero. On the contrary, I wish him well."
After the hearing, Perez said he was grateful to the judge for the sentence. "I'm convinced the law, in this case, served man," he said. "Maybe he didn't stop to help me (at the time of the accident) but there were others to help me - the paramedics and others who were with me. I was not left to die alone. I had the help that he couldn't give . . . This accident took my leg. But, in a way, it took his life."
Why would your's or anyone's "race" matter one iota in being against illegal immigration?
This is just one of thousands of examples where illegal aliens hurt, victimize, or kill unsuspecting American citizens. The noose is now tightening down on them. Hardworking American taxpayers have had enough.
harrowup thrives on this. My suggestion is just to ignore harrowup. Deny him the opportunity to get you banned, etc.
We've yet to find an American citizen willing to move apple trees all day even for $15.00 an hour. If you wish to apply, the Illinois Migrant Council will hook you up pronto.
Be Ever Vigilant!
In Napa, they pay $10.00, under the table of course. My neighbor had scads of them clearing off his back acreage, so he can have an area to put in a pool and tennis courts on the cheap. It just makes the rich soooo much richer, and allows them to have the extra cash to buy lawyers to harrass the the neighbors and try to take their property.
Exactly...It shouldn't...the FROBLs consistently use the race card against FReepers that are anti-illegal immigration...which makes no sense at all when you don't know a persons race, nationality or even where they are posting from...
that part was sarcasm...
Nope and bold caps won't change the fact.
Would people stop eating apples if the price doubled? Yes, some would and others wouldn't. There is no dying need for our nation to support illegal aliens when even one American who is looking for work, at a decent wage, is out of work.
They are not illegal.
Why, because they have your blessing?
He works for us. He is legal. Give it up.
I thought TLBSHOW had been banned.
Who is "He"?
Don't lie and all will be well:
This isn't exactly news in the nursery business, but apparently the landscapers came up short.
I'm not interested in your reply (either of you).
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