The border officers who chased the drug smuggler with 700+ lbs of marijuana and shot him in the butt sentenced

Question

Did you see?

12 years and 11 years, respectively.

"EL PASO, TEXAS - Two U.S. Border Patrol agents were watching the Mexican boundary last year when they stopped a van carrying 743 pounds of marijuana. The driver fled back across the Rio Grande -- with a gunshot wound in his buttocks.
Federal prosecutors convinced a jury in March that the agents had shot a defenseless man and then schemed to cover it up.

On Thursday, the agents -- Ignacio (Nacho) Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean -- were sentenced to 11 years and 12 years, respectively, for offenses that included violating the smuggler's civil rights. Outraged supporters and anguished family members packed the courtroom, and many wept as the sentences were announced.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone agreed to let the men remain free until January, when they must report to prison.

The case has become a cause célèbre among anti-immigration activists and advocates of stronger border security, who argue that it epitomizes the misplaced priorities of federal prosecutors as well as the absurd predicament of Border Patrol agents, who must fight heavily armed criminals while using little or no force. Among the rules broken by the agents, supporters note, was a policy forbidding agents from giving chase."

I think that is outrageous. I think that if some sentence was necessary (giving the benefit of the doubt) that it should have taken into account the fact that our border patrol officers have a job to do, and that 'don't pursue' directives are counterintuitive to that job.

What do you think?

http://www.startribune.com/484/story/754700.html

We need more Cops - Scumbag is suing the border patrol for millions, having been given amnesty for his crime to get him to testify against the border patrol. Whether there was cause to draw is debated which is why I gave the 'benefit of the doubt.' I still think it is an outrageous sentence.

dousmoked...actually, I think marijuana should be legal in small quantities for medical purposes, and carry less penalty than in some states for less than an ounce. However, I am not passionate about it because I don't smoke myself.

Nancy, this is out of line sentencing even if they did it, which I have to assume. The mandatory sentence for a gun is different , but perhaps that should not apply to our law enforcement, since they are SUPPOSED to carry a gun.

Answer 1

I feel strongly that with the help of some angry members of congress and 3 of the jury confessing to tampering with the jury that this conviction will be vacated..Give the system time to work,I feel that the conviction will be not only vacated,the agents will be vindicated by real facts,and given full back pay.The drug cartel that controls El Paso is strong and has very long arms.But they don't reach all the way to Washington DC.This travesty of justice is seen very often but it will change.Right now the National Guard ,the local police and the Border Patrol cant get this cartel and their partners,some American side gangs under control.The staging area for this drug activity is in Venezuela,that was in the papers just the other day.This wanton lawless activity must be stopped and our agents allowed to arrest the guilty.They are the true hero's of the drug war.The drug smuggler should have been killed.then no problem.All drug scum from all country's ,including the US need to be eliminated.This person was a known drug smuggler and had 700 lbs of weed.Hes nothing more than a criminal and doesn't deserve any civil rights or any justice other that the right to get his azz shot for being a scummy drug dealer.I don't care if you smoke weed or not but it is still a crime to smuggle it across the border.And until that law is changed they are all criminals.

Answer 2

"U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone said that she took into account the risk to the agents in prison and the conduct of the victim when deciding on lenient sentences on most charges, but that she could not reduce the 10-year mandatory, consecutive sentence mandated by federal law when a gun is discharged in the commission of a crime."

By law they had to face a minimum of 10 years in prison. There is no doubt that a crime was committed, the only question is how serious it was. Whether it was just not reporting the shooting and trying to cover it up by picking up the shell casings, or trying to kill an unarmed man. Since a crime was committed even if it was a minor one, according to the law, it sounds like a 10 year sentence is inescapable. I'm sure most of the people upset about this case favor mandatory minimum sentencing laws like that. Unfortunately you can't pick and choose. If you want a minimum sentencing law, it needs to apply to all instances of law-breaking equally.

The sentence aside, they did do inappropriate things. Shooting at an unarmed suspect who is running away is not allowed. Covering up that shooting by not reporting it and picking up the shell casings obviously makes things look even worse.

Belle: people in general have civil rights, not just americans. Just because the guy was not an american citizen doesn't mean that anything can be done to him.

Answer 3

Need to shoot the smugglers and the DA that brought the charges. Why anyone would be a cop today is beyond me. They are treated badly by both the criminals and the regular folk. And get no backup from the courts and the media. Someday there is going to be a real shortage of Police and then I want to hear all the civil rights folks And Karis killing someone who is threatening you is called self defense. And commen sense

Answer 4

OMG that's nuts! How the hell did they manage to successfully argue the civil rights of a person who is not a citizen of America in an American court? I don't know the whole issue with the problems with border control - I'm in Australia- just the occassional story on the news about massive busts & huge tunnels. But regardless of that i don't get how any two people could be given such a harsh sentence. Unfortunately i have seen court cases which involved prosecution for sexual assault and attempted murder be WAY LESS harshly sentenced. Surely the border control officers can launch an appeal of some description!!??! i hope there is some way of making this ruling come into line with common sense!

Answer 5

Sentence was definitely way too harsh, but with good lawyers and good behavior, the agents will be out of jail in no time............but let's not forget, The piece of **** smuggler could have been killed if that bullet flew about a foot and a half higher and hit him in the heart. Bad judgement on their part; that's what an adrenaline rush does to a cop while chasing fugitives, I guess.

From the report we gather that the OFFICERS lives were never at risk.......smuggler was fleeing.....and that there was no reason for OFFICERS to draw/fire their weapons, right???

So for now, the smuggler, aka SCUMBAG, remains known to POLICE, will probably abandon the practice of drug-trafficking if he knows what's good for him, and his family. SCUMBAG should consider himself VERY lucky to be walking........

Answer 6

Hi DAR,
No I haven't read this but thanks for posting it! It's about time the border patrols get what they deserve-the patrols should've know the rules when it comes to this sorta thing (unarmed & they still shot him) & then a cover-up to boot! Maybe someday the United States government will legalize marijuana. When they will realize that pot is not a dangerous drug, doctors are considering medical marijuana in many states, then we got the Feds busting people that use medically- legally in California because of the drug war. I personally use marijuana for migraines, I have taken prescription drugs for years & you can only take so many pills in a 24 hour period. I will stand up & VOTE when & if it becomes legal! If you disagree I don't really care it work for me & yes I am aware it's still illegal. Have a good day! :0)

Answer 7

That is ridiculous those men should be given medals. I am canceling my hunting trip to Texas and going to Colorado instead and I will try to get my friends to canceling their trips as well since protecting drug smugglers is obvious more important to them then protecting us

Answer 8

God how many times have you people said "illegal is illegal" and then you want to only apply it to certain people. You CAN'T shoot someone from behind and try to cover it up.. what are you thinking!!!

Answer 9

It's okay, good time, work time, out in 3 or 4 days. Nice job border men

Answer 10

lynch that idiot 'judge' along with the aclu fool who prosecuted those good men.. and cut out the tongues of the jurrors. Catch that drug smuglin bastard and slice him into many small pieces..