Actually, my understanding is that juries in this district are generally sympathetic to Border Patrol cases, and they see their share of them. And there’s a reason why juries deliberate, and judges sentence, and never the twain do meet. It’s an element of our adversarial system.
That this jury was rather badly instructed is also a factor in this case. I know nothing of the voir dire, but I am willing to bet that one or two were chosen because of an illegal alien family connection. Sutton's team had a great many more resources in this area than the defense.
I understand that at one point, the jury was for acquittal, but was dissuaded by one or two members to go otherwise. Call me cynical, but in this area of the country, corrupted by huge amounts of drug money at every level of law enforcement and administration, I trust nothing.. and no one.
From Johnny Sutton's mouth to your keyboard.
Several freepers from Texas said otherwise at the time Sutton made this assertion.