Arizona Vigilante Found Responsible In Civil Trial

[DeSwiss]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061123/ts_nm/crime_vigilante_dc_1">Jury Finds Arizona Rancher Responsible In Vigilante Trial

By Tim Gaynor
November 22, 2006

BISBEE, Arizona (Reuters) - A jury found a rancher responsible for holding a Mexican-American family at gunpoint in a civil trial in a small Arizona town on Wednesday in what their attorney said was a historic victory over vigilantism.

The jury at Cochise County Superior Court in Bisbee, 90 miles southeast of Tucson, found Roger Barnett responsible for false imprisonment, assault and inflicting emotional damage. It awarded two local families nearly $100,000 in damages for the incident, which occurred during a hunting trip.

Ronald Morales and his wife Renee said Barnett loaded an assault rifle and leveled it at their two daughters, and the daughter of another family, then harangued and abused them during the deer hunting trip on October 30, 2004.

The trial, which began November 14, highlighted the issue of vigilante violence in the rugged county on the Mexico border, which is a major thoroughfare for illegal immigrants and the place where the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps began civilian border patrols last year.

The Morales' family's attorney, Jesus Romo, hailed the verdict as a "historic victory" for rights groups seeking to combat vigilantism in southeast Arizona. "We are delighted ... It sends out a clear message that there are consequences for vigilantism," he told Reuters outside the courthouse.

The jury awarded damages after apportioning responsibility between the plaintiffs and defendant in the suit. Barnett, who runs a gas and tow-truck business, denied the allegations and contended the Morales' party was trespassing.


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So let's see.... that was a husband, wife, two daughters and another girl, their daughter's friend for a total of 5 people @ $100K per group. So if he's falsley imprisoned 10,000 at gun point, the way I see it he's soon to be out about $200,000,000. Mmmmm.... maybe he can get an SBA loan?
:shrug:
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