Support Your Local Sheriff

[Vegas]

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=259889059758067

The Border: Just like imprisoned Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, jailed Texas Sheriff's Deputy Gilmer Hernandez is being sued by the illegal aliens he tried to catch.

There seems to be a pattern developing on our border. Illegal aliens, sometimes smuggling drugs, sometimes just smuggling each other, are caught sneaking into the U.S.

They resist, flee and, with the help of a cooperative U.S. attorney, file criminal charges against the law enforcement officers who caught them. Top it all off, they file a lawsuit for civil rights violations.

Last week, Hernandez was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for violating the civil rights of Maricela Rodriguez Garcia.

Garcia was riding in a van full of illegal aliens that ran a stop sign in Rocksprings, Texas, on April 14, 2005, and was stopped at 11:50 p.m. by Deputy Hernandez.

Edwards County Sheriff Don Letsinger said an investigation found that Hernandez approached the vehicle and found only the driver was sitting upright and suspected the others were illegal aliens.

When Hernandez asked the driver to step out of the vehicle, it sped off, nearly running over Hernandez in the process.

Hernandez fired four shots at the tires of the fleeing Chevy Suburban. One of the bullets ricocheted, a fragment penetrating Garcia's lip and shattering two teeth.

World Net Daily reports that four days later the Mexican Consulate in Eagle Pass, Texas, wrote Edwards County Sheriff Don Letsinger a letter demanding punishment.

On April 20, 2005, the consulate wrote Norman Townsend of the FBI a similar letter demanding punishment.

Handling the Hernandez prosecution, as in the Ramos-Compean case, was U.S. Attorney for West Texas Johnny Sutton, who seems to be making a career prosecuting those tasked with protecting our Southern border.

And as in that case, the prosecution took liberties with the facts of the case.

Sutton claimed Hernandez fired shots at the vehicle as it sped away 'knowing it was occupied with the nine individuals,' at least seven of whom were illegal aliens and some of whom were later called to testify for the government.

Sutton, as he did in the Ramos-Compean case, took at face value the claims of two of the vehicle's occupants that Hernandez fired shots at them as they fled the car on foot.

Letsinger says, 'The statements by the prosecution that Gilmer Hernandez had chased the illegals across a pasture, cursing them and shooting at them, were completely false.'

Letsinger says the Texas Rangers, an ATF agent and an ATF dog scoured the pasture, even using a metal detector, and found no casings.

In the Ramos-Compean case, Sutton gave immunity to Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, whom the two were charged with shooting in the buttocks during his attempt to smuggle 743 pounds of drugs into the U.S. on Feb. 17, 2005. They were convicted of violating Davila's civil rights and trying to conceal their 'crime.'

Davila was arrested a second time for smuggling drugs the following October, a fact Sutton conspired to keep from the public and jury.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R.-Calif., has pointed out, 'the prime witness against these two Border Patrol agents was involved in another major load of drugs, and the prosecution made a conscious decision to keep these facts from the jury.'

And just as Davila ended up filing a $5 million lawsuit against the feds who dared to impede his drug smuggling activities, Maricela Rodriguez-Garcia and Candido Garcia-Perez are preparing to file a multimillion dollar civil lawsuit against Hernandez and Sheriff Letsinger for violating their civil rights.

Texas Republican John Culbertson, one of a group of congressmen who fiercely opposed the prosecution of Ramos and Compean — a prosecution also demanded by the Mexican government — and who advocate a full pardon by President Bush, says 'Mexico wants to intimidate our law enforcement into leaving our border unprotected, and we now have confirmation of it in writing.'

If we are ever to secure our borders, it won't be by offering as human sacrifices those we task to defend them.

[Iron Jaw]

I've been a Border Patrol Agent for the last 20 years. As far as I'm cocerned Ramos and Campeon should have been disciplined administratively for improper reporting procedures - as should the supervisor who knew about it (in fact, in a shooting investigation the supervisor or critical incident team does all the reporting based upon interviews with the agents involved - the supervisor let it go, probably thinking the guy wasn't hit anyway so why do a lengthy investigation?).

But they should not have been tried in a criminal court (especially in leftist Austin). Terminated at the most - but not criminally tried.

Johnny Sutton is a disgrace to his profession. Glamour boy, former U-Texas baseball star, teammate of Roger Clemens on the Longhorn national championship squad. Overzealous and trying to make a name for himself by going hard on law enforcement officers.

We've had many shootings in the Yuma area over the years and I have investigated several. But the attornies here are not out to dig up dirt on the agents. I'm glad I don't work in the El Paso Sector.

Hopefully, the president signs the pardon. Or better yet, the case gets an aquittal on appeal. If the latter happens, the two can try and get their jobs back.

[Vegas]

I've been a Border Patrol Agent for the last 20 years. As far as I'm cocerned Ramos and Campeon should have been disciplined administratively for improper reporting procedures - as should the supervisor who knew about it (in fact, in a shooting investigation the supervisor or critical incident team does all the reporting based upon interviews with the agents involved - the supervisor let it go, probably thinking the guy wasn't hit anyway so why do a lengthy investigation?).

But they should not have been tried in a criminal court (especially in leftist Austin). Terminated at the most - but not criminally tried.

Johnny Sutton is a disgrace to his profession. Glamour boy, former U-Texas baseball star, teammate of Roger Clemens on the Longhorn national championship squad. Overzealous and trying to make a name for himself by going hard on law enforcement officers.

We've had many shootings in the Yuma area over the years and I have investigated several. But the attornies here are not out to dig up dirt on the agents. I'm glad I don't work in the El Paso Sector.

Hopefully, the president signs the pardon. Or better yet, the case gets an aquittal on appeal. If the latter happens, the two can try and get their jobs back.

Interesting. I was actually hoping that you would offer your opinion on this case.

[Iron Jaw]

Interesting. I was actually hoping that you would offer your opinion on this case.

Oh, on the Hernandez case? Definitely another railroad job at the hands of Sutton. Hernandez sent to jail for doing his job. Ridiculous. A railroad job to appease a bunch of sleazy activists from the Mexican Consulate.

Johnny Sutton must be taking a few payoffs from the drug and human smugglers.

Hernandez, Campeon, Ramos - they're not alone on Sutton's victim list. Border Patrol Agent Gary Brugman. Gary came up against the wrath of Sutton and the prosecutorial arm of the federal government after a very minor confrontation with an illegal alien in January 2001. This led to an 18-month investigation which concluded in Brugman serving 24 months in federal prison for violating the civil rights of an illegal alien.

It sounds awfully familiar to anyone who has followed the cases of Ramos, Compean and Hernandez. On January 14, 2001, a border patrol agent responded to a sensor alert. About a dozen illegals were stopped. Brugman was the second agent to arrive and as he approached two of the illegals, in his opinion, attempted to get away. At that point Brugman used his foot to corral the two illegals. The case documents say Brugman "struck" the illegal "with his foot pushing him to the ground." The illegals were taken to the processing center where the illegal who got kicked "saw a sign encouraging individuals to report abuse by Border Patrol agents." The illegal filed a complaint and Johnny Sutton's team got wind of it.

An 18-month investigation was launched. He thought that throughout much of the investigation, he thought the investigation was about another incident in which he had been assaulted by an illegal and during that confrontation, the illegal's nose got broke. That illegal went to jail and no charges were filed against Gary, who was shocked to learn the investigation and the charges were about this very forgettable kickiing incident.

What injury? What crime?
In order to have a case, Sutton had to establish "bodily injury" to the illegal. Again, according to case documents, the illegal " testified that he felt physical pain when the defendant kicked and struck him. He also testified that he experienced residual pain for about three days following the assault." Give me a break. Three days of "residual pain"? Sure sounds like a case of an over-aggressive prosecutor looking for an excuse to keep border agents on the defensive.

Gary spent two years in prison for his "crime" of violating the "civil rights" of an illegal. Gary constantly faced the possibily of getting attacked by Mexican nationals in jail. He developed his own system to protect himself. He spent time in the same prison as Ramos and says it's a dangerous place. And he's now stepping forward only to help Ramos, Compean and other border agents who have suffered the wrath of the Sutton regime.

[Vegas]

Oh, on the Hernandez case? Definitely another railroad job at the hands of Sutton. Hernandez sent to jail for doing his job. Ridiculous. A railroad job to appease a bunch of sleazy activists from the Mexican Consulate.

Johnny Sutton must be taking a few payoffs from the drug and human smugglers.

Hernandez, Campeon, Ramos - they're not alone on Sutton's victim list. Border Patrol Agent Gary Brugman. Gary came up against the wrath of Sutton and the prosecutorial arm of the federal government after a very minor confrontation with an illegal alien in January 2001. This led to an 18-month investigation which concluded in Brugman serving 24 months in federal prison for violating the civil rights of an illegal alien.

It sounds awfully familiar to anyone who has followed the cases of Ramos, Compean and Hernandez. On January 14, 2001, a border patrol agent responded to a sensor alert. About a dozen illegals were stopped. Brugman was the second agent to arrive and as he approached two of the illegals, in his opinion, attempted to get away. At that point Brugman used his foot to corral the two illegals. The case documents say Brugman "struck" the illegal "with his foot pushing him to the ground." The illegals were taken to the processing center where the illegal who got kicked "saw a sign encouraging individuals to report abuse by Border Patrol agents." The illegal filed a complaint and Johnny Sutton's team got wind of it.

An 18-month investigation was launched. He thought that throughout much of the investigation, he thought the investigation was about another incident in which he had been assaulted by an illegal and during that confrontation, the illegal's nose got broke. That illegal went to jail and no charges were filed against Gary, who was shocked to learn the investigation and the charges were about this very forgettable kickiing incident.

What injury? What crime?
In order to have a case, Sutton had to establish "bodily injury" to the illegal. Again, according to case documents, the illegal " testified that he felt physical pain when the defendant kicked and struck him. He also testified that he experienced residual pain for about three days following the assault." Give me a break. Three days of "residual pain"? Sure sounds like a case of an over-aggressive prosecutor looking for an excuse to keep border agents on the defensive.

Gary spent two years in prison for his "crime" of violating the "civil rights" of an illegal. Gary constantly faced the possibily of getting attacked by Mexican nationals in jail. He developed his own system to protect himself. He spent time in the same prison as Ramos and says it's a dangerous place. And he's now stepping forward only to help Ramos, Compean and other border agents who have suffered the wrath of the Sutton regime.

That's disgraceful. How is morale in the Border Patrol and how is recruiting going?

[Iron Jaw]

That's disgraceful. How is morale in the Border Patrol and how is recruiting going?

As stated, the U.S. Attornies we deal with in most areas side with us. El Paso and Johnny Sutton are an exception to the rule. The morale is pretty good in most areas and recruiting is exploding. But the El Paso Agents are demoralized over the case.

[ryr8828]

As stated, the U.S. Attornies we deal with in most areas side with us. El Paso and Johnny Sutton are an exception to the rule. The morale is pretty good in most areas and recruiting is exploding. But the El Paso Agents are demoralized over the case.

How do you feel about Carol Lam, or do you know of her?

[Iron Jaw]

How do you feel about Carol Lam, or do you know of her?

The California crew of U.S. attornies were not particularly good for the service. It takes an act of God to get some criminal cases against alien smugglers prosecuted in SoCal.

However, she did some good work in the Golden State Fence Company case against the company for hiring illegal aliens. The company was building steel border fences under a government contract - and using illegal labor to do it (BP Agents in Cali were arresting workers who were working on the fence designed to keep vehicle traffic from crossing the border illegally:eek: ).

I'm on the AZ side where the prosecuters will take about any case.

Lam was known for going after the government corruption cases. She was canned a while back - part of the Gonzalez purges.

[ryr8828]

The California crew of U.S. attornies were not particularly good for the service. It takes an act of God to get some criminal cases against alien smugglers prosecuted in SoCal.

However, she did some good work in the Golden State Fence Company case against the company for hiring illegal aliens. The company was building steel border fences under a government contract - and using illegal labor to do it (BP Agents in Cali were arresting workers who were working on the fence designed to keep vehicle traffic from crossing the border illegally:eek: ).

I'm on the AZ side where the prosecuters will take about any case.

Lam was known for going after the government corruption cases. She was canned a while back - part of the Gonzalez purges.

That's why I brought her up. Hannity was playing clips of Orrin Hatch and Leahy talking about her and others on a Sunday news show.
Supposedly Feinstein wanted her fired, although she would never admit that now.

[Vegas]

That's why I brought her up. Hannity was playing clips of Orrin Hatch and Leahy talking about her and others on a Sunday news show.
Supposedly Feinstein wanted her fired, although she would never admit that now.

I read a pretty length article about her over the weekend and how Feinstein did want her fired.

[ryr8828]

I read a pretty length article about her over the weekend and how Feinstein did want her fired.

Did Feinstein want her fired because of the lack of prosecuting immigration crimes, or because of something to do with Feinstein's husband's defense contracting?

[Iron Jaw]

That's why I brought her up. Hannity was playing clips of Orrin Hatch and Leahy talking about her and others on a Sunday news show.
Supposedly Feinstein wanted her fired, although she would never admit that now.

Dianne's a snake in the grass when it comes to illegal immigration. She tries to act like she wants illegal immigration controlled but caves into the activists in her home state. She was probably perturbed about the Golden State case, seeing Lam as actually doing something with the employer sanctions law that congress passed back in 1986.

[Vegas]

Did Feinstein want her fired because of the lack of prosecuting immigration crimes, or because of something to do with Feinstein's husband's defense contracting?

It was the lack of prosecution in immigration cases. People in California are quite pissed about the whole situation with immigration in that state. I'll try to dig up a link.

And the defense contractor thing, it's going to get swept away as fast as Harry Reid's illegal land deals that made him millions of dollars. So much for the democrats getting rid of the culture of corruption.