SAUNDERS: No force border enforcement

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | October 22, 2006 | Debra J. Saunders

[SmithL]

SOMEONE OUGHT to tell the Bush administration that prisons are for criminals, not law-enforcement personnel trying to do their jobs. On Thursday, a federal judge in Texas sentenced two former Border Patrol agents to 11 and 12 years in prison because they shot at a drug smuggler who was evading arrest.

In February 2005, Border Patrol agent Jose Alonso Compean got in a scuffle with smuggler Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila, who was driving a van that carried 743 pounds of marijuana. Compean and fellow agent Ignacio Ramos shot at Aldrete-Davila -- they say they thought he had a gun, which Aldrete-Davila denies. Ramos shot the smuggler in the butt, but because Aldrete-Davila kept running -- across the border -- they said they thought they did not hit him. The agents picked up their shells and failed to report the shooting. For that violation of agency policy, Ramos and Compean deserved an administrative review and some sort of job-related punishment.

Instead, due to a case of blind and bloodthirsty federal prosecutorial overkill, Ramos and Compean were sentenced to 11 years and 12 years respectively. Oh, and the smuggler was granted immunity for the 743 pounds of pot, and is suing the federal government for $5 million. Crime pays, while going after criminals can land you hard time in prison.

On the government's side, I should mention: A jury found the two agents guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon, discharge of a firearm during a violent crime, obstructing justice, lying about the incident and willfully violating the Fourth Amendment right of Aldrete-Davila -- who was in the U.S. illegally, not to be mention smuggling drugs -- to be free from illegal seizure. Now three jurors have signed statements saying they were pressured into a guilty verdict,

[upchuck]

The scumbag here is obviously not the BP agents.

And it isn't the smuggler, either.

Rather, it's the prosecutor.

[Dane]

Now three jurors have signed statements saying they were pressured into a guilty verdict,

Well it's kinda of too late now, how come they didn't stick to their positions in the jury room.

[3AngelaD]

Depending on what the circumstances are, that could be the basis for a new trial, at least.

[calcowgirl]

Thanks for posting this. I missed the thread Thursday that announced this. What a travesty!

Saunders has it right:

In order to spare the agents and their families from further anguish and legal bills, Bush should commute the agents' sentences now. If ever an act of compassionate conservatism was needed, this is it.

[MBB1984]

Bush should pardon the agents. The prosecutor should by lynched.

[WatchingInAmazement]

Bush should pardon the agents. The prosecutor should by lynched.

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.

[WatchingInAmazement]

Bush should pardon the agents. The prosecutor should by lynched.

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.

[WatchingInAmazement]

Sorry for the double post, need coffee....

[photodawg]

the smuggler was granted immunity for the 743 pounds of pot, and is suing the federal government for $5 million. Crime pays.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

And Lynn Stewart was "sentenced to 28 months from a possible 30 year bid for helping Blind Shiek communicate with al queida. This is the arena in which the leftists operate. Even a conservative SCOTUS is too far left for me. These guys have been lawyers too long. Gen. George Washington tried Major John Andre, Benedict Arnold's British conspirator, by military tribunal and ordered Andre hanged within 10 days of his capture. Nazi saboteurs, including an American citizen, captured on U.S. soil during World War II were tried in secret by military commission and promptly executed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. (Ann Coulter column 10/06)

The republican strategy for 08 has to include judicial reform. Everything starts in the courts, not the congress. We make a big show of passing laws but never enforce them. the law is actually used by traitors and subversives to destroy the U.S.Constitution. These border patrol agents should become a rallying point for the opponents of illegal immigration, defenders of the 2nd amendment,anti ACLU activists, and all freedom loving defenders of the constitution. No way should these guys serve one minute of jail time for defending our boarder. No way should a captured drug dealer be allowed to go free in return for testimony that incarcerates officers who bravely defended our border and our laws.

[Unicorn]

BTTT

[jpsb]

Hmmm, a Mexican Drug cartel either bought two borders guards or a federal prosecutor. Either way drug dealers in Mexico own part of our government. Hmmm, is that why Bush refuses to do anything about the border?

[Regulator]

He is fluent in Spanish

Probably helps when he's conversing with the traffickers in the Mexican government who pressured him into going after the two agents.

The Narco-Trafficker gangs are celebrating today because now they know for sure: they control the border.

[El Gato]

He is fluent in Spanish, having appeared as a television commentator for the Spanish language network Univision during the Selena homicide trial.

Before anyone makes abig deal out of this, I'd remind them that the two agents, Jose Alonso Compean and Ignacio Ramos, are also Hispanic and most likely also speak Spanish. Professionally for certain, possibly socially as well.

[WatchingInAmazement]

I'd remind them that the two agents, Jose Alonso Compean and Ignacio Ramos, are also Hispanic and most likely also speak Spanish.

Point taken. And here's the irony. On the other threads about this subject anyone defending the agents were called "racists". Go figure.

[Irish Eyes]

..............Now three jurors have signed statements saying they were pressured into a guilty verdict,........

So what happens next ? Why isn't this a huge story on it's own ?

[panthermom]

So much for the war on drugs. Oh, and a drug smuggler with over 700 lbs. of dope doesn't have a gun? Yeah, right. This country has become so backwards. Laws are laws, one would think it's pretty much black or white, yet its become more of a grey area. I don't understand it.

[c-b 1]

I'd remind them that the two agents, Jose Alonso Compean and Ignacio Ramos, are also Hispanic and most likely also speak Spanish.

Of course they speak Spanish, it is a requirement to be a Border Patrol agent.

[B4Ranch]

Bio:  

Cardone, Kathleen

Born 1953 in Medina, NY

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. District Court, Western District of Texas
Nominated by George W. Bush on May 1, 2003, to a new seat created by 116 Stat. 1758; Confirmed by the Senate on July 28, 2003, and received commission on July 29, 2003.

Education:
State University of New York at Binghamton, B.A., 1976

St. Marys School of Law, J.D., 1979

Professional Career:
Briefing attorney, Hon. Philip A. Schraub, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, 1979-1980
Private practice, Texas, 1980-1990
Judge, Municipal Court for the City of El Paso, Texas, 1983-1990
Associate judge, Family Law Court of Texas, 1990-1995
Judge, 383rd Judicial District Court of Texas, 1995-1996
Attorney/mediator, Texas Arbitration Mediation Services, 1997-1999
Instructor (part-time), El Paso Community College, 1997-2003
Judge, 388th Judicial District Court of Texas, 1999-2000
Mediator, Texas Arbitration Mediation Services, 2001-2003
Visiting judge, State of Texas, 2001-2003

Race or Ethnicity: White

Gender: Female

I don't know how many times I have read on FR .......
Vote Republican for the judges, for the judges, for the judges, for the judges, for the judges, for the jud..........

This case kind of blows that argument about why we all MUST vote Republican straight out into the manure pile. Any more Bush appointed judges like this bitch and we'll all be speaking Arabic, Chinese and Spanish. English will be the 4th language spoken here.

Bio:  

Cardone, Kathleen

Born 1953 in Medina, NY

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. District Court, Western District of Texas
Nominated by George W. Bush on May 1, 2003, to a new seat created by 116 Stat. 1758; Confirmed by the Senate on July 28, 2003, and received commission on July 29, 2003.

Education:
State University of New York at Binghamton, B.A., 1976

St. Marys School of Law, J.D., 1979

Professional Career:
Briefing attorney, Hon. Philip A. Schraub, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, 1979-1980
Private practice, Texas, 1980-1990
Judge, Municipal Court for the City of El Paso, Texas, 1983-1990
Associate judge, Family Law Court of Texas, 1990-1995
Judge, 383rd Judicial District Court of Texas, 1995-1996
Attorney/mediator, Texas Arbitration Mediation Services, 1997-1999
Instructor (part-time), El Paso Community College, 1997-2003
Judge, 388th Judicial District Court of Texas, 1999-2000
Mediator, Texas Arbitration Mediation Services, 2001-2003
Visiting judge, State of Texas, 2001-2003

Race or Ethnicity: White

Gender: Female