Desertdog
Member
The story does not specify how much the bail was, but I will bet this is the last we hear about the "material witnesses",except we may hear that they did not show up in court and their bail was forfited. May it be a BIG sum.
Immigration law group posts bond for illegals detained by reservist
May 13, 2005, 5:04 PM
http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=3342101
A Los Angeles-based immigration law group has posted bond for six illegal aliens who were caught after they were detained at gunpoint by an Army reservist in what a county attorney has ruled was an act of self-defense.
The Mexican men, who are material witnesses in a case against a suspected smuggler, must now wait to go before an immigration judge, which could take up to six months.
Attorney Peter Schey, executive director of the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, said Army reservist Patrick Haab violated the immigrants' civil rights when he detained them April 10 at a rest stop near Gila Bend.
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas' interpretation of the law was "completely erroneous" when he decided to not charge Haab with aggravated assault in the incident, said Schey.
Schey urged Thomas in a letter last week to reconsider.
Special Assistant County Attorney Barnett Lotstein said Thomas' office is sticking by its decision.
"We are confident that the decision we made with regard to Haab was appropriate," Lotstein said. "He did not break the law, and we do not prosecute someone if they're not breaking the law just to make a point. That's what some people want us to do."
Arizona's citizen's arrest law allows a person to arrest someone committing a felony, and in Haab's case, one of the illegal immigrants was smuggling humans and the other six were conspiring with him, both federal felonies, Thomas has said.
Thomas has said that Haab also was justified in drawing his pistol because a person can brandish a weapon to stop a fleeing felon or if he believes he is in danger.
Haab told authorities he drew his gun because some of the men were rushing him.
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether anyone's civil rights were violated during last month's incident.
Immigration law group posts bond for illegals detained by reservist
May 13, 2005, 5:04 PM
http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=3342101
A Los Angeles-based immigration law group has posted bond for six illegal aliens who were caught after they were detained at gunpoint by an Army reservist in what a county attorney has ruled was an act of self-defense.
The Mexican men, who are material witnesses in a case against a suspected smuggler, must now wait to go before an immigration judge, which could take up to six months.
Attorney Peter Schey, executive director of the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, said Army reservist Patrick Haab violated the immigrants' civil rights when he detained them April 10 at a rest stop near Gila Bend.
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas' interpretation of the law was "completely erroneous" when he decided to not charge Haab with aggravated assault in the incident, said Schey.
Schey urged Thomas in a letter last week to reconsider.
Special Assistant County Attorney Barnett Lotstein said Thomas' office is sticking by its decision.
"We are confident that the decision we made with regard to Haab was appropriate," Lotstein said. "He did not break the law, and we do not prosecute someone if they're not breaking the law just to make a point. That's what some people want us to do."
Arizona's citizen's arrest law allows a person to arrest someone committing a felony, and in Haab's case, one of the illegal immigrants was smuggling humans and the other six were conspiring with him, both federal felonies, Thomas has said.
Thomas has said that Haab also was justified in drawing his pistol because a person can brandish a weapon to stop a fleeing felon or if he believes he is in danger.
Haab told authorities he drew his gun because some of the men were rushing him.
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether anyone's civil rights were violated during last month's incident.
