Gilmer Hernandez in Del Rio, Texas, prison (Photo: SWTexasLive.com)

A welcome home party is being planned in Rocksprings, Texas, for a deputy sheriff who was prosecuted and sentenced to prison for shooting at the tires of a van carrying Mexican illegal aliens who had tried to run over him.

The announcement comes from U.S. Border Watch, which has monitored the case of Guillermo Hernandez as well as several other cases involving border security.

"We ask you to join U.S. Border Watch, the Town of Rocksprings, Texas, family members and countless supportive friends [in] a spectacular Welcome Home Party for Gilmer," said the announcement. The event, about which more details will be released later, is set for Oct. 20.

The organization said Hernandez is expected to be released Oct. 15. "This fine young deputy and his family have suffered a great deal as a pawn of our government," said the announcement. "We need to show America we believe in him and what he stands for."

As WND reported, U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, whom President Bush identified as a good friend, prosecuted Hernandez for injuring two Mexican illegal aliens in a van. Hernandez fired at the van's tires as the illegals escaped from a routine traffic stop, attempting to run over the officer as they drove away.

(Story continues below)

Hernandez was sentenced to one year plus one day in prison after Sutton's office had recommended seven years. Hernandez decided not to appeal his case, choosing to serve the short sentence rather than risk another trial and possibly a longer sentence. He reported for his term earlier this year, and it was subject to routine allowances for good behavior and other factors.

U.S. Border Watch raised funds to provide for the deputy's family while he was serving the penalty demanded by the Mexican government.

As WND reported Sutton decided to prosecute Hernandez only after the Mexican consulate wrote letters demanding it. An investigation by the Texas Rangers concluded Hernandez did nothing wrong in discharging his weapon at the fleeing van.

Hernandez a few months ago was transferred from a Texas prison to a federal facility in another state and placed in the general population, according to his former boss, Sheriff Don Letsinger, who believes the officer's life was endangered by the move and told WND Hernandez asked his family to not contact him in the federal prison.

The office of Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, which has been following the case, confirmed to WND Hernandez has been transferred.

Sutton also was the prosecutor who pursued the cases against U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean for firing their weapons in pursuit of a fleeing Mexican illegal alien drug smuggler.

Sutton also prosecuted Border Patrol Agent Noe Aleman for lying in his attempt to legally adopt his wife's three young nieces from Mexico.

Ramos and Compean are serving 11- and 12-year terms respectively. Aleman is serving a six-month sentence.

The two illegal aliens injured in the Hernandez incident, Maricela Rodriquez-Garcia and Candio Garcia-Perez, won a $100,000 settlement in a lawsuit against the officer.

Special offers:

Get "The Late Great USA" and find out how America is giving away its sovereignty

"PREMEDITATED MERGER: How leaders are stealthily transforming USA into North American Union"

Autographed! – Pat Buchanan unleashed on border crisis

Tom Tancredo: America itself "In Mortal Danger"

Get Minutemen founder's new book

"Conquest of Aztlan": Will Mexicans retake American Southwest?

Previous stories:

Gil Hernandez 'fears for his life'

Border Patrol agent vindicated

Sheriff sees pattern in border agents' cases

Feds seeking 7 years for another Texas cop

Justice urged to release Ramos-Compean documents

Records prompt call for new Ramos-Compean trial

Congressman: Bush 'doesn't give a damn'

Cop called 'double agent' in Ramos-Compean case

Ramos, Compean release on bond nixed

Border agents' case inspires song

Feinstein still probing Ramos-Compean case

Judicial Watch seeks records in Ramos-Compean case

Sheriff: Deputy prosecuted by Mexico's demand

Senate hearings on Ramos-Compean postponed

Smuggler's 2nd drug case confirmed by accomplice

Ramos attorney calls for mistrial

Smuggler's 2nd delivery of marijuana confirmed

Congressman: Probe Mexico's role in prosecutions

Mexico demanded U.S. prosecute sheriff, agents

Discrepancies in case against Border Patrol unresolved

Compean reports reading half of Bible already

How cozy was Border Patrol with smuggler?

Border Patrol agents fired for changing testimonies

Drug smuggler left cell phone in van

Border-agent investigator had tie to smuggler

Author of DHS border-agent report lied to Congress

Officials urged to resign for lie about border agents

Government admits lying about jailed border agents

Imprisoned border agent did report shooting

Imprisoned border agent beaten by fellow inmates

Prosecutor had evidence against drug smuggler

Poe seeks 'public' documents on border agents

Prosecutor accused of hiding smuggler's 2nd drug bust

Homeland Security memos contradict U.S. attorney

Uproar over border agents to get White House review

Feds 'knew smuggler' in Border Patrol case

Ballistics data don't support charge against border agents

Funds set up for Border Patrol agents

Congressman: Feds stonewalling on border agents

Border agent's wife at State of the Union

Revolt builds as Republicans seek to toss border agents' convictions

Border Patrol agent held in solitary confinement

Imprisoned agent's wife: President is a hypocrite

Border agents' prosecutor responds to critics

Border agents sent to prison

Border agents plead for 'Christmas pardon'

White House clarifies 'nonsensical' comment'

12 congressmen demand pardon for border agents

Snow says question on agents' prison time 'nonsensical'

Border Patrol agents sentenced to prison

National Guard units to be armed, close to the border

Gang expert backs Tancredo charge

National Guard units to be armed, close to the border

No militarization of U.S.-Mex border

Not even killer flu to shut U.S. border

Chertoff downplays Mexican military incursions

'Shoot illegals' comment earns host FCC complaint

Another armed incursion on U.S.-Mexico border

Texas border standoff with Mexican military

Border Patrol warned: Brace for violence

Feds to border agents: Assassins targeting you

Armed standoff on Rio Grande

Border sheriff warns: We're overwhelmed

Mexican drug commandos expand ops in 6 U.S. states

It's war between cops in Mexico

The threat from Mexico

'It's a war' along Mexican border

Mexican commandos seek control of border

Mexican commandos new threat on border

Border Patrol agents shot in Laredo

Mexicans shoot at Border Patrol