flygirlaa2
06-10-2003, 05:53 PM
HOUSTON, Texas (AP) -- Three former federal immigration officers
were found guilty Monday of failing to help an illegal immigrant
whose neck was broken during a raid.
Louis Rey Gomez, 37; Richard Henry Gonzales, 37; and Carlos Reyna,
43, of San Antonio were convicted of willfully denying Serafin
Olvera-Carrera medical care after his paralyzing injury.
The immigrant was left a quadriplegic. Eleven months after the
beating, he suffered heart and respiratory problems related to his
paralysis and was left brain dead. He died after being taken off
life support.
The officers said they thought Olvera-Carrera, 47, was faking his
injuries after the 2001 raid on a home.
The jury also found Gonzales guilty of using excessive force by
spraying Olvera-Carrera with pepper spray. Reyna was found innocent
of using excessive force by allegedly beating the immigrant.
Gonzales could get up to 20 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
Reyna and Gomez each face up to 10 years in prison and $250,000
fines. Sentencing was set for September 17.
"The families are in shock," said Gomez's attorney, Jay
Norton. "Clearly, there are no winners here. I believe we will be
filing the appropriate motions and appeal."
Prosecutors said it was not until more than seven hours after Olvera-
Carrera was paralyzed that a nurse at a jail in Comal County got
medical care for the man.
Prosecutors said the man spent hours moaning and begging for help
from the federal officers.
Prosecutor Ruben Perez said that Reyna at one point joked about
throwing Olvera-Carrera into the luggage compartment of a bus that
was transporting the 21 immigrants arrested at the Bryan home.
Perez also said when Olvera-Carrera was moved to the bus, the
officers dragged his paralyzed body across the ground.
The father of five from Mexico had been working as a roofer at the
time of the raid. Federal officials said he had been in the United
States since 1977
were found guilty Monday of failing to help an illegal immigrant
whose neck was broken during a raid.
Louis Rey Gomez, 37; Richard Henry Gonzales, 37; and Carlos Reyna,
43, of San Antonio were convicted of willfully denying Serafin
Olvera-Carrera medical care after his paralyzing injury.
The immigrant was left a quadriplegic. Eleven months after the
beating, he suffered heart and respiratory problems related to his
paralysis and was left brain dead. He died after being taken off
life support.
The officers said they thought Olvera-Carrera, 47, was faking his
injuries after the 2001 raid on a home.
The jury also found Gonzales guilty of using excessive force by
spraying Olvera-Carrera with pepper spray. Reyna was found innocent
of using excessive force by allegedly beating the immigrant.
Gonzales could get up to 20 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
Reyna and Gomez each face up to 10 years in prison and $250,000
fines. Sentencing was set for September 17.
"The families are in shock," said Gomez's attorney, Jay
Norton. "Clearly, there are no winners here. I believe we will be
filing the appropriate motions and appeal."
Prosecutors said it was not until more than seven hours after Olvera-
Carrera was paralyzed that a nurse at a jail in Comal County got
medical care for the man.
Prosecutors said the man spent hours moaning and begging for help
from the federal officers.
Prosecutor Ruben Perez said that Reyna at one point joked about
throwing Olvera-Carrera into the luggage compartment of a bus that
was transporting the 21 immigrants arrested at the Bryan home.
Perez also said when Olvera-Carrera was moved to the bus, the
officers dragged his paralyzed body across the ground.
The father of five from Mexico had been working as a roofer at the
time of the raid. Federal officials said he had been in the United
States since 1977