On 2010-07-09, J. Clarke wrote:
On 7/9/2010 3:22 AM, azotic wrote:
WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. - Admitted thieves are going free, while an elderly
Wheat Ridge man is facing the possibility of spending the rest of his
life behind bars, all, he says, for trying to defend his property and
his life.

82-year-old Robert Wallace said in February that he looked out his
window and saw two men hooking his flatbed trailer up to their pickup.
He yelled at them to stop, but they sped away, stealing his trailer. He
told police he fired two shots at the pickup.

Minutes later, police say 32-year-old Damacio Torres dropped 28-year-old
Alvaro Cardona off at a hospital emergency room with a gunshot wound to
the face.

Torres did not stay to talk with police, but they caught up with him
later. According to court documents, he admitted he and Cardona stole
the trailer.

Wallace did not want to talk on camera, but when we asked him if the two
men threatened him he said, "They almost ran me over."

The Jefferson County DA's office said that neither Torres nor Cardona
have been charged with anything at this point, even though Torres
confessed to the crime. However, the homeowner, Wallace is facing twelve
felony counts, including four counts of attempted first degree murder.
If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Sources say Torres and Cardona are believed to be in the country
illegally and both have an arrest record. Cardona's record includes
public fighting and numerous traffic offenses like driving without a
license or insurance. Torres's record includes agricultural trespassing
as well as a 2005 arrest for aggravated motor vehicle theft for which he
was given a plea bargain to a lesser crime. Sources say Torres is also
under investigation for being part of a major auto theft ring.

Wallace is out on bond and due back in court in September to enter his
plea.

Neighbors say the thieves should be the ones facing charges and Wallace
should be given an award for protecting the neighborhood.

http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-theive...,231586.story?

Elected official in that county. Whaddya bet the DA just flushed his
career?


As far as I know, like it or not, what Rober Wallace did (shooting at
thieves driving away) is a crime in every state of the United States.

That thieves were in the country illegally, is completely immaterial.

i