U.S. attorney defends prosecution of Border Patrol agents

[deminks]

Source: Houston Chronicle

Despite months of criticism from the media and members of Congress, U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton of the Western District of Texas has stepped up his defense in a decision to prosecute two former Border Patrol agents who shot an illegal immigrant and suspected drug smuggler two years ago.

Sutton told the Houston Chronicle on Thursday that "the rule of law" required him to prosecute former U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean who are appealing their March 2006 convictions on federal charges stemming from the February 2005 shooting of Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila. Aldrete-Davila was unarmed and fleeing the Border Patrol when he was wounded by one of 15 shots fired at him by the two agents.

(snip)

The former Harris County prosecutor said he came to Houston to appear on the Edd Henry talk radio show, where the host has taken to calling him "Johnny Satan."

"I'm giving him the benefit of a doubt," Sutton said. He added: "I try not to take it personally. I went on that show because I grew up on the west side. I know Edd doesn't have many listeners, but the listeners he does have are on the west side of Houston."

Despite repeated criticism by conservative Republican congressmen, Sutton also said that he had not been contacted by or corresponded personally with any member of Congress.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/4794596.html

---

Ok, besides an example of racism alive and well in Amerika, I suspect that this USA will be on KKKarl's list if he isn't already. Not contacted by any member of Congress? Why do I think Mr. Sutton is not telling us everything? He actually says in the next paragraph that he "does not recall any contacts".

[mr.alleycat]

1. Total BS

This is one of the most BS prosecutions I've ever heard of.

[PSPS]

3. Don't be too quick to jump on the "this is BS" bandwagon

There's a lot to this story that defenders of these agents always leave out.

Start by reading this:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003576246&slug=border17&date=20070217

[soothsayer]

2. Isn't that dude a close bud of gonzo? seriously, I think he's involved here.

[deminks]

4. Yes, a close associate of GWB and Gonzo

here is the Wiki on him, "House of Death" and all:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Sutton

The "House of Death" case

Sutton's role in the "House of Death" case remains unresolved. Lalo, a paid informant of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), part of the Department of Homeland Security, and DEA, had infiltrated the Juarez Mexican drug cartel. In this situation he worked with Heriberto Santillan-Tabares and helped him to murder people in Mexico. Lalo had forehand knowledge of planned killings and informed his US handlers of the intended crime.<2> Local handlers were horrified that their informant was involved in murder and got advice from higher authorities. Sutton has been named as a key US official who was aware of the murderous activities of the informant, but failed to intervene.<3><2> Killings took place until January 2004. Once the Mexican government got notice, a mass grave containing at least twelve bodies was found in a house on 3633 Calle Parsonieros, Ciudad Juárez, dubbed the "House of Death."<2> Santillon was convicted of trafficking by Sutton, but never accused of murder, and Lalo, the former informant for the US government, sits in a high security prison awaiting extraditon to Mexico, according to him a death sentence.<2>

[madrchsod]

5. these guys were bad agents

they got what the "tough on crime mandatory sentence 85% jail time" crowd wanted but now it`s come back to bite them on the ass..

[harpboy_ak]

6. Sutton withheld exculpatory evidence

The agents have appealed on the grounds that Sutton withheld exculpatory evidence from the defense in order to make it appear the agents were 1) acting without knowledge of supervisors and 2)were lying.

Sutton is a slimeball, close to Gonzo and the Chimp.