Ethics Complaint Filed Against Johnny Sutton
Posted by: The Watchdog in Uncategorized
Examiner
AUSTIN (Map, News) - A conservative Christian group has filed an
ethics complaint against a federal prosecutor, arguing that he
mishandled the case of two Border Patrol agents convicted of shooting
a fleeing drug suspect and hiding evidence.
In the complaint, Kentucky-based Christians Reviving America=92s
Values asked the Texas Bar Association to investigate U.S. Attorney
Johnny Sutton, arguing that he willfully misled the jury to convict
Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean.
Sutton=92s office did not immediately return calls from The
Associated Press seeking comment Monday.
A federal jury in Texas convicted Ramos and Compean of assault,
obstruction of justice and civil rights violations in the wounding of
Osvaldo Aldrete Davila on the Texas border near El Paso in 2005. A
federal judge sentenced Compean to 12 years in prison and Ramos to 11
years.
Appeals are pending in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
=93This whole case stinks to the highest parts of heaven,=94 said Don
Swarthout, president of the Christian group. =93How is it possible in
America to convict two border agents for simply doing their jobs and
send them to prison for 11 and 12 years? How is it possible for Johnny
Sutton=92s office to ruin the lives of two of our border agents based on
the word of a known Mexican drug smuggler?=94
The convictions caused a national firestorm among conservative
lawmakers and others. Critics have repeatedly called the prosecution
unjustified and the sentences extreme.
In exchange for his testimony against the agents, Aldrete was
given immunity from prosecution for allegedly trying to smuggle drugs
the day he was shot.
Jurors didn=92t hear evidence that Aldrete allegedly smuggled
marijuana into the United States several months after the shooting.
The complaint alleges Sutton=92s office misled the public and jury
about Aldrete=92s subsequent arrest.
During his trial, Compean testified that he shot in self-defense
after seeing what he believed to be a gun in Aldrete=92s hand. Ramos
said he fired in defense of Compean. Aldrete denied having a gun. Both
agents acknowledged not re****ting the incident.
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