I also believe that one of the agents was "Agent of the Year" in 2005.
Well, that's what I kept hearing for weeks from conservative radio hosts on various stations. It was also posted here at FR by folks whose big issue is the border.
It's a myth. He, Ramos, was arrested twice for domestic abuse. No recognition of outstanding service has been awarded to either men by the Border Patrol.
Because this is such an emotionally charged issue, many here are not paying attention to the facts, just what feels good emotionally - the same way the far left reacts to issues important to them.
I'd heard or read nothing of the other side, the prosecution, until I heard Rich Lowry from the National Review mag. interviewed on the local conservative "Hot Talk" station. The host remarked about the travesty and miscarriage of justice concerning the two agents. Lowrie said that he heard Sutton on O'Riley and he made a very good argument to the contrary.
There is a list of myths concerning the case posted on several of these threads. It's apparent that those screaming the loudest have the least amount of facts, but are too emotionally invested to make a graceful retreat from an untenable position.
If there had been a shootout, there would be no problem, but the only shooting was done by the border agents. That and the fact they tried to hide the evidence of the shooting by policing their brass, among many other things.