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Ranch Rescue Volunteer Denies Assault

By John MacCormack San Antonio Express-News

A Ranch Rescue volunteer pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of assaulting and unlawfully restraining an undocumented immigrant three weeks ago during a nighttime patrol of a ranch near Hebbronville. "He denies beating the Salvadoran. We're saying he didn't do it," said Ricardo Soliz, a court-appointed lawyer for Casey Nethercott, who remains in jail on $200,000 bond.

Nethercott and a second volunteer, Henry Conner, were arrested March 21 after they allegedly used a Rottweiler to track down two Salvadorans, then detained them and beat one of them. Conner is free on bond.

Ranch Rescue is an Abilene-based border watch group that provides armed patrols to ranchers who believe authorities cannot protect them from undocumented immigrant trespassers.

Nethercott and Conner were among the volunteers who came to South Texas last month as part of "Operation Falcon." They came at the invitation of rancher Joe Sutton, who says hundreds of undocumented immigrants trespass on his 5,000 acres each week.

Nethercott, 35, of La Mirada, Calif., has become a cause celebré for Ranch Rescue since his arrest.

"Nethercott remains in Solitary Confinement and has no TV, no radio, no newspapers, no magazines, no books, not even a Bible," reads the Ranch Rescue Web site.

"He has been denied all visitors, including religious counselors. He is being psychologically tortured by this isolation! This is the behavior of rogue states like Iraq and North Korea, not the United States of America," reads the account.

The group's Web site asks for donations for his defense and vows a show of force by Ranch Rescue on April 26 in Hebbronville. The first "Operation Falcon" was called off after the arrests.

"We're going back to Jim Hogg County to finish what we started, and we're going back in strength," said Jack Foote, Ranch Rescue's founder.

"We've gotten a lot of response. There will be at least 200 of us, likely more. And we'll all arrive at the same time, in a convoy," he said.

Foote said he was with Nethercott and other volunteers when the Salvadorans were found hiding in the grass, and he claims they were not mistreated.

A French journalist who also was present told reporters the two Salvadorans were well treated after being found. His affidavit about the event is on the Ranch Rescue Web site.

"We have eyewitnesses that can verify what happened. We have photographic evidence. Casey Nethercott did not strike anyone. He was not even within reach of them," Foote said.

Also, said Foote, there is no record of anyone being seriously injured.

"If (the Salvadoran) had a lump on the back of his head egregious enough for these charges, don't you think they would have had a physician look at the man? Either he had no injuries or the injury didn't warrant medical attention," he said.

Soliz said Nethercott has no complaints about the conditions in the Starr County Jail, where he is being held, and wishes to distance himself completely from Ranch Rescue.

"I have talked to him, and he says he's getting medical care, and has no complaints about his treatment, but that this group is sending out stuff on the Internet and making his life miserable," Soliz said.

"He has told me that he disavows any connection with Ranch Rescue, that these people are not giving him any support, they have not given him any money," he said.

Foote, however, said several thousands of dollars has been raised to hire a lawyer to defend Nethercott. Foote was surprised to hear that Nethercott is apparently finished with his group.

Nethercott's legal problems might only be starting. According to prosecutors, he has a felony criminal record in California for similar offenses and was prohibited by federal law from carrying weapons.

"He has denied having a weapon, but I think we've got substantial evidence he did have a weapon, so he may also be facing some federal charges. The ATF is taking an interest," said Assistant District Attorney Rudy Gutierrez.