The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has upheld the controversial sentences of former Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean for the shooting of an unarmed illegal immigrant and admitted drug smuggler — and then lying about the incident. While the court vacated the convictions on tampering with an official proceeding, it left the rest of the case intact — upholding the lengthy sentences for both men.
Ramos and Compean were convicted in 2006 and sentenced to 11 and 12 years in prison, respectively, for the February 2005 shooting of Osvaldo Aldrete Davila at the border near El Paso.
In a significant win for the Justice Department, the court held that “the trial of the case was conducted fairly and without reversible error.” The Court noted that its reversal of part of the cases would not be a source of celebration: “However, this may not be of much moment to Ramos and Compean because we leave the major conviction with the major sentence … untouched.” For the ruling, click here.
The case has drawn considerable criticism publicly and various politicians have rallied to the side of the agents. The ruling is likely to increase calls for a pardon from President Bush. The final months of a presidency are viewed as the most promising time for pardons to be issued, particularly from President Bush who has been one of the least generous presidents in history in the use of presidential pardons.
For the full story, click here.
Will a President Obama pardon them?
Dundar,
I am glad that you are coming to grips with the realization that Obama is going to be President. Relax and enjoy the ride. I don’t think Bush will pardon these two criminals because he will be too busy giving preemptive pardons for himself and the rest of his Torture Brigade.
Unfortunately these agents lied, and it doesn’t matter what kind of person they were lying about. We simply can’t have law enforcement making judgements about whether to lie, or falsify evidence, or to plant evidence on people they deem to be ‘of bad character’. It would throw the entire justice system into turmoil. Pretty soon law enforcement types will feel empowered to taser anybody they please, like a minister for making a cute remark, or a teenager with a broken back, or … uh, oh no wait–that’s already happening.
Something not quite right in this case. Another Bush US Attorney in the spotlight.
President Bush is charging up his pardon pen like a taser for his first installment of, “pardons gone wild”
Bush can only surround himself with his ilk. Even people like Colin Powell and Scott McClellan finally get a conscience and leave. So in the Bush administration, the cream settles to the bottom.
At a grad party this Sunday we could not find a single person out of about 40 people that would commit to voting for Obama, and this is suppose to be a “safe” state for Obama!
Earlier in the year, after Obama obtained the nomination, the news was unless Obama is in trouble nearing the election, nobody would support Hillary as his VP.
Now suddenly the left winger Obamamites are saying all over the place today “what would be wrong with Hillary” so you know he is in trouble.
PS: I said “President Obama” facetiously.
Jill,
I hope that pardon pen has a large power source because Bush is going to be signing a large number of pardons. I guess we can add Sen. Ted Stevens to that list now that he has been indicted. The pardon list may be as long as the Terrorist Watch list!
dundar:
A meeting of the John Birch Society Executive Board commemorating their graduation from “bigot school” doesn’t count. Sorry! Maybe a bigger sample would help.
Mespo, you really should just shut up.
Mespo said…“bigot school”
You’re alumni, right?
What’s funny is watching you lecture Dundar, like you were any better.
He may be a confused righty, but you’re a patheticlly confused lefty.
alumnus–a graduate or former student of a specific school, college, or university.
alumni –two or more graduates or former students of a specific school, college, or university.
I knew you knew that. I just wanted to pass your test Professor B. [muted chuckle]
mespo you had ‘um cold in your first post.
mespo727272
1, July 29, 2008 at 7:47 pm
alumnus–a graduate or former student of a specific school, college, or university.
alumni –two or more graduates or former students of a specific school, college, or university.
I knew you knew that. I just wanted to pass your test Professor B. [muted chuckle]
…uuhh, I was referring to the “body alumni” there, Socrates. You know, as in “member thereof”?
But thanks for admitting you’re reduced to spellchecking. [muted chuckle]
Of course maybe with you it would have been more accurate to identify you with the alumnae.
So to speak.
“body alumni” LOL. That is a classic. Maybe you thought I meant “body snatchers” too! You really need to go on tour. Work on that sexism though.
whoolie:
I love dundar. He’s fun to argue with because he knows the meaning of words, and I never see him dodging when he’s just blown it. Maybe not the best advocate, but at least he keeps his post short and I ‘ve never seen an expletive either. Also never seen him bully anyone either and certainly not a lady like Patty C. A gentleman through and through –in a relative sense of course.
Here that Dundar?
You just made a new friend.
He’s not much for debating, but he’s a great little spellchecker.
Not much for grammatical errors though.
While he’s correct I left out the word “member of”, a quick peruse of my comments will demonstrate that I often truncate sentences, as this is a blog, not a thesis.
Course to this pinhead, it probably is.
Which is why he’s reduced to hunting for typos.
If I could be a lawyer like messpo, oh, how great it would be.
I would litigate my cases,
right in the jury’s faces,
They’d feel the clients paaaain.
dee dee de da do do doo
And I’d pester all the judges,
to reward my clients grudges,
if I only had a braaaaain.
I could toss back all the barter,
Declare its a non-starter,
And hold out for some gaaaaaain.
dee dee de dee dee do
And my awards would be plenty,
From that overheated Venti,
If I only had a braaaain.
When the ambulance I’m chasing,
Has patients hurt while racing,
But at best it’s just a spraaaaaain.
Dee dee dee de de dee
I’d get out the whiplash collars,
And collect a million dollars,
If I only had a braaaaaain.
I would populate the dockets,
The judges in my pockets,
and DA’s.. on the traaaain.
dee dee de dee de do
While my clients smoking Kools,
I’d be suborning jury pools,
That’s if I only had a braaaain.
When the DA is objecting,
the judge is now suspecting,
My case is growing laaaaame.
dee dee dee dee de dee
So I put on my expert witness,
To contest the plaintiff’s fitness,
If I only had a braaaaainn.
When the jury is sequestered,
My clients being pestered,
To say that he’s insaaaaaane.
dee dee de do dee do
Because I’d like to cop a plea,
So I don’t miss the opening Tee,
Thats if I only had a braaaain.
I like good poetry like Keats or Shelley, but my favorite comes from our own russ.
It’s not poetry you pinhead.
It’s a famous song, adapted especially for you.