An Arizona judge ordered a U.S. Border Patrol agent to be tried on charges of second-degree murder for the death of an illegal alien who allegedly threatened him with a rock, after the Mexican consulate in Washington investigated and consular officials discussed the case with witnesses.
Advertisement - story continues below
WND has reported similar allegations of Mexican government intervention against U.S. law enforcement officers, including the cases of border agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean Deputy Sheriff Gilmer Hernandez.
TRENDING: Chuck Norris happy to work with Hungarian president 'fighting for that better future'
In the newest case, agent Nicholas Corbett has been ordered to be tried on charges of second-degree murder for the death Jan. 12 of Francisco Dominguez-Rivera, who crossed the border illegally in an Arizona desert area between Naco and Douglas.
Justice of the Peace David Morales of Cochise County said there was no support for first-degree murder, however, and dismissed the charge.
Advertisement - story continues below
According to the Arizona Daily Star, defense attorneys questioned the decision by the sheriff's office not to separate the witnesses. They also alleged the Mexican government tried to influence the testimonies of the witnesses by giving them food, clothes and lodging, as well as arranging for visas to be in the U.S.
![]() |
Advertisement - story continues below
At one point, defense attorney Dan Santander asked sheriff's Det. Wendy Adney: "Who was in charge of this investigation? The Cochise County sheriff's or the Mexican consulate?"
But she said the decision to let consular officials speak with the witnesses was appropriate.
Advertisement - story continues below
In the case against Ramos and Compean, a jury convicted the border agents last year of violating federal gun laws and covering up the shooting of a drug smuggler as he fled back to Mexico after driving across the border with more than 700 pounds of marijuana.
As WND reported, no criminal investigation of the agents began until after the Mexican consulate complained the agents violated the smuggler's civil rights by shooting him without warrant.
Advertisement - story continues below
Hernandez was convicted of violating the civil rights of two illegal aliens and sent to prison after the Mexican consulate wrote demanding the prosecution. An investigation by the Texas Rangers had concluded Hernandez did nothing wrong in discharging his weapon at the fleeing van.
In his case, two illegal aliens were injured when he 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.
In all three cases, no prosecutions of the officers were contemplated until the Mexican Consulate intervened, demanding protection of the civil rights of nationals in the U.S. illegally.
Advertisement - story continues below
Additionally, the prosecution in all three cases is relying on testimony of illegal immigrant witnesses who may have been coached by Mexican Consulate officials.
A Reuters report noted the Corbett case "drew criticism from Mexico."
Advertisement - story continues below
"Following the killing, Mexico's Foreign Ministry complained of 'disproportionate violence' and instructed the Mexican Embassy in Washington to investigate the circumstances," the report said.
As WND reported, U.S. investigators from the Border Patrol were in the process of interviewing six illegal immigrants who were witnesses to the Corbett case when officials from the Mexican Consul's Office arrived at the Naco Border Patrol Station.
The Mexican consul demanded to speak with the witnesses, and Darcy Olmos, the patrol agent in charge at the Naco station, interrupted the U.S. investigation so the Mexican consul could interview the witnesses first.
The decision by Olmos has led to charges the Mexican consul was able to coach the three witnesses prior to the witnesses giving statements to the U.S. investigators.
Advertisement - story continues below
Authorities say last year border police captured 1.1 million illegal aliens crossing into the U.S. from Mexico, and with that number came a soaring number of attacks on agents. Lawyers for Corbett explained he shot Dominguez-Rivera in self-defense after he was threatened with a rock, a technique that is becoming increasingly common, authorities said.
An earlier report from KVOA television noted Mexican President Felipe Calderson has ordered his consul to watch the case.
Advertisement - story continues below
The shooting happened when Corbett caught Dominguez-Rivera, his two brothers and a sister-in-law crossing the border illegally. They were witnesses to the shooting, and said the agent either hit Dominguez-Rivera on the back of the neck or grabbed his neck and that's when the gunshot was heard.
Corbett has told his supervisors that "a male subject had a rock in his hand and that he felt threatened." He reported he had his weapon drawn and was holding it with the muzzle pointed to the ground and when "the subject made a motion to throw the rock … that's when he fired one shot."
Advertisement - story continues below
Sean Chapman, one of the lawyers for Corbett, 41, said the judge's ruling was what "was expected."
But Brandon Judd of the Arizona chapter of the National Border Patrol Council contended the prosecution is part of a nationwide pattern of politically motivated prosecutions against border patrol agents. Judd said the matching testimony from the three witnesses is more because of their blood ties and influence from consular officials than what actually happened.
Advertisement - story continues below
"I've looked over the reports, and I have a hard time seeing how they could do it unless of course this was politically motivated," Judd.
Dominguez Rivera was crossing into the U.S. illegally with his brothers Rene Dominguez Rivera, 21, and Jorge Dominguez Rivera, 24; and his sister-in-law, Sandra Vidal Guzman, 20, authorities said.
Advertisement - story continues below
Special offers:
"The Late Great USA" autographed by the author (no extra charge), only from WND!
"PREMEDITATED MERGER: How leaders are stealthily transforming USA into North American Union"
Advertisement - story continues below
Autographed! – Pat Buchanan unleashed on border crisis
Tom Tancredo: America itself "In Mortal Danger"
Advertisement - story continues below
Get Minutemen founder's new book
"Conquest of Aztlan": Will Mexicans retake American Southwest?
Advertisement - story continues below
Advertisement - story continues below
Previous stories:
Dope dealer in Ramos-Compean case cops guilty plea
House to dig deeper into Ramos-Compean case
Advertisement - story continues below
Border agent says China ordered his prosecution
Advertisement - story continues below
House votes for plan to free Ramos, Compean
Smuggler handed pass after delivering 2nd load
Advertisement - story continues below
Congressional posse rides to help jailed border agents
Bush won't promise to pardon border agents
Advertisement - story continues below
Feinstein to Bush: Free Ramos, Compean
Sutton grilled in Ramos-Compean hearing
Advertisement - story continues below
After Libby, Bush pushed to pardon border agents
Gil Hernandez 'fears for his life'
Advertisement - story continues below
Ignacio Ramos reported in 'emaciated' condition
Border Patrol agent vindicated
Advertisement - story continues below
Another border agent charged with murder
Sheriff sees pattern in border agents' cases
Advertisement - story continues below
Feds seeking 7 years for another Texas cop
Justice urged to release Ramos-Compean documents
Records prompt call for new Ramos-Compean trial
Advertisement - story continues below
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
Advertisement - story continues below
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 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