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Defendants number 33. Of those, 23 are charged with possession with
intent to distribute marijuana.
Three are charged with cocaine possession, two for methamphetamine
possession, and five for immigration violations.
One suspect was caught with 726 pounds of marijuana in a van, as he
traveled on U.S. Highway 385 south of Marathon Oct. 1.
Jesus Rodriguez-Rivas, 36, of Mexico, is charged with conspiracy to
possess and possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms
of marijuana.
Saul Moreno-Diaz, 23, David Flores-Flores, 20, and Luis Aflonso
Ochoa-Sanchez, 19, all of Mexico, are charged with conspiracy to import,
importing, conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to import
more than 100 kilograms marijuana on Sept. 11.
Hilario Sanchez-Lopez, 47, Israel Delacruz-Arriaga, 20, Martin
Guerrero-Lara, 32, Manuel Rodriguez-Macinas, 35, Javier Solis-Chavez,
33, and Rito Rodriguez-Mancenas, 33, all of Mexico, are charged with
conspiracy to import and possess with intent to distribute marijuana on
Aug. 1.
If convicted, they could be sentenced to 5-40 years in prison and a $2
million fine, because the amount alleged is more than 100 kilograms.
Others charged with marijuana possession with intent to distribute are:
* Esteban Trevino-Weston, 35, of Mexico (254.52 pounds);
* Alfonso Rios-Hernandez, 25, of Mexico;
* Adolfo Renteria-Hernandez, 22, of Mexico;
* Maribel Ramirez-Tarango, 34, of Mexico;
* Juan Reynaldo Ruiz-Perales, 25, of Mexico;
* Isidro Ortega-Sanchez, 29, of Mexico;
* Francisco Gallegos-Bueno, 34, of Mexico;
* Jesus Monclova-Valerio, 32, of Mexico;
* Jason Kyle Woods, 35, of Dallas;
* Fernando Ramirez, 42, and Peggy Dohn Good, 28, no address given;
* Oscar Gerardo Alvarado-Ramirez, 45, of Mexico;
* William Wimberly, 23, and Terry Fulton, both of Birmingham, Ala. (also
conspiracy).
Charged with conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to
distribute cocaine on Sept. 30 are Raul Gerardo Vargas-Lopez, 20, and
Eduardo Plascencia, 24, both of Mexico.
Jaime Alejandro Adame, 18, of El Paso, is charged with possession with
intent to distribute cocaine on Oct. 3.
Ernesto Alaniz, 25, of Tijuana, Mex. and Raul Moreno-Cedillo, 25, are
charged with conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to
distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 4.
The cocaine and methamphetamine charges could result in sentences of 10
years to life and a $4 million fine upon conviction.
Jose Carmen Baylon-Espino and Mario Gutierrez-Medrano of Mexico are
charged with two counts each of transporting illegal aliens on Sept. 14.
Edwin Rodriguez-Marquez and Oscar Baeza-Carrasco are charged with
illegal re-entry after being deported.
Reeves County Commissioners will meet on Monday at 9:45 a.m. in the
third floor of the county courthouse to discuss or take action on the
Fiscal Year 1997 budget for the Reeves County Detention Center.
Commissioners will also discuss the Fiscal Year 1995 Audit report and
the official bond and oath on County Auditor Lynn Owens.
In other business the court will discuss or take action on the annual
review of the statement of agreement between West Texas state-operated
mental health and mental retardation services and Reeves County.
The court will also:
* Discuss/take action on contract for detention of juvenile offenders
between Reeves County and the Rio Grande Council of Governments.
* Discuss/take action on amending resolution for general election.
* Discuss/take action on reports from various departments.
* Discuss budget amendments and line-item transfers.
* Discuss/take action on personnel and salary changes at the Road and
Bridges department, Reeves County Detention Center, Sheriff's Office and
the county judge's office.
* Discuss the minutes from previous meetings.
* Discuss/take action on semi-monthly bills.
* Spread on the minutes, notice of over-axle over-gross weight permit
and continuing education for county treasurer.
Oscar Saenz introduced the assistant criminal district attorney to the
audience at the Pecos High School auditorium, and went down a lengthy
list of Moore's credentials, including her current title of deputy chief
criminal division for the Tarrant County DA's office. Tarrant County
includes the city of Fort Worth and its suburbs, including Arlington,
Euless, Bedford, Haltom City and Richland Hills.
Moore is the supervising attorney over four felony courts, the Gang Unit
and the Juvenile Department. She is also a member of the State Bar of
Texas, Tarrant County Bar Association, Texas District and County
Attorneys Association, State Bar Committee on the Unauthorized Practice
of Law, fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, Inns of Court, Fort Worth
Chapter, Barrister and Board of Directors Tarrant County Citizens Crime
Commission.
"So you see," said Saenz, Moore is a, "highly qualified," speaker.
In her speech, Moore explained that the prosecution unit for gang
related crimes was created in the latter part of 1989 and early part of
1990 when she was appointed chief prosecutor for the unit.
It has concluded, she said, that this (gang crime) was, "a different
type of crime...everything about it was odd," including the culture,
mentality and language, all of which officials decided demanded its own
prosecutorial unit.
She said later in her presentation that gangs are not a minority or
poverty issue.
"It's an issue everywhere," and, "it doesn't seem like there's any place
where you can run and hide (from it)."
"The gang phenomena is like a magnet that attracts these kids," she said.
Hybrid gangs, which Moore explained are formed in the more suburban
areas of Tarrant County include middle class youngsters of mixed races.
"As I was driving around (Pecos)," Moore continued, "I saw the warning
signs of gang problems," specifically the graffiti.
"I won't pretend to know the problems here," she said, but went on with
her experiences in the DAs office with Tarrant County gang cases.
Moore outlined generalized aspects of the four major types of gangs:
White, Black, Hispanic and Asian, and that all are motivated by a
philosophy.
"White gangs are motivated around a philosophy of hate," she said, "they
generally are racist."
"They're a younger version of the same ol' racist stuff," she said, and
made a reference to the Klu Klux Klan.
White gangs are, "a smaller group than the larger gangs that we have
problems with (in Fort Worth)," explained the guest speaker, "but they
are very violent and vocal."
Moore recalled her first meeting with a Black gang crime witness and the
language he used. She noted such terms as, "gats, diss, dogs, bucket,
flared up and slobs," which respectively stand for guns, verb term for
disrespect, friends, old car, dressed in gang colors and rival gang
members.
Black gangs are motivated, "by profit," she said, coming from their sale
and distribution of crack cocaine and other illegal drugs, while
Hispanic gangs are driven around territorial boundaries.
Moore explained that Hispanic gang graffiti, "is very artsy," and
briefly went over hand signs by both types of gangs and how they're,
"thrown."
The Tarrant County prosecutor briefly went over Asian gang activity,
which is mostly directed towards Vietnamese families, who have a deep
distrust of the police, government and banks.
"So who better to target than someone who won't call the police and
stores their money at home?," she said about the Asian gang activity.
She added they were also keen on extortion tactics.
"They're also very mobile," added Moore.
"We've got social problems in this country," Moore told the crowd.
"We've got to get involved in their (youngsters) early years," she said,
and added, "we can't wait until they're in high school."
She also said that parents, "need to put their foot down," by closing
their pocketbooks and refuse to buy them the baggy clothing or rap music
that promotes violence and makes women out to be, "pieces of trash."
"It's hard to have a teenager," she contended, but said parents must,
"take a tour of your kids room," and check for posters, signs, graffiti
symbols on books and notebooks.
"Don't let them hang out with kids wearing baggy clothing and bandanas,"
she said.
Her speech was followed by a video showing of some of interviews with
gang members and victims of gang violence.
Bailey said that McLaren and Jeffrey Allen were listed as owners of the
property, where law enforcement officers found about $8,000 worth of
waist-high marijuana growing last week.
"McLaren called me yesterday and said he doesn't own that land," Bailey
said.
And McLaren faxed papers this morning to back that up, so Bailey is
satisfied that someone else owns the marijuana patch.
"I'm just looking for the dopers," he said, but declined to reveal the
names of suspects.
He said he does not expect an arrest or indictment soon, because the
investigation will be tedious, requiring identification of the owner of
the land and a camper that was parked on it when the search was made.
"It looked like a resort-type deal, where they come up on weekends," he
said.
Bailey said the search turned up the marijuana patch, some pipes and
bowls, seeds in small baggies and traces of cocaine.
The plants had nice heads on them, but none were found drying as if for
sale. "It is probably for personal use," he said.
Bailey said he received a tip about the marijuana patch. Working with
the sheriff's office were members of the Permian Basin Drug Task Force,
Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden and Jeff Davis County Constable
Jack Bell.
McLaren has been cooperative, Bailey said. "So far, everything he has
told me is true...he's trying his best to explain all this to me. He
knows I will put him in jail in a heartbeat."
Bailey said he has never had any trouble with McLaren or his fellow
Republic of Texas members, and he has not seen any militia-type people
in the area.
"We had reports of a couple that patrolled the interior of some of
McLaren's property, but there is nothing illegal about that. I told
everybody to leave them alone, and they would get bored with it and
leave. They patrolled a little while and left."
Other law enforcement agencies working with the sheriff's office on the
ROT investigation include U.S. Marshals, Texas Department of Public
Safety, state attorney general's office and U.S. Attorney's office.
"Everybody in the world is working with us," Bailey said. The attorney
general investigator spent quite a bit of time with me. He is working
hard to help us."
Drew Durham, AG investigator, was in Pecos recently to meet with Senior
Judge Lucius Bunton III about McLaren, whom Bunton had earlier found in
contempt of court.
In releasing McLaren, Judge Bunton ordered him not to file any more
bogus liens or action against persons involved in his legal battles.
Some reports indicate that McLaren may have violated that order.
A press spokesman for the AG's office declined to comment on the
investigation, citing pending litigation.
Attorney General Dan Morales has filed a civil action in Travis County's
98th Judicial District against McLaren and 24 other officials of the
purported "Republic of Texas."
The 67-page petition charges them with illegal restraint of trade,
intimidation and retaliation, and falsifying government records.
Morales obtained a temporary restraining order which prohibits the
defendants from continuing to violate state law, including the filing of
bogus liens against state and private property.
The court appointed the attorney general as a temporary receiver to
dissolve any "liens," "judgments," "indictments" and other "orders" made
by the republic's so-called "common law courts."
ROT had filed liens on all state property and ordered Gov. George Bush
to move out of the capitol in Austin.
"If people want to believe the United States illegally annexed the
Republic of Texas 150 years ago, they are free to do so," Morales said.
"But they are not free to break the law. And they are not free to
intimidate, coerce and harass law-abiding Texans."
ROT Secretary of Defense Ralph Turner told several hundred "citizens" in
a meeting of the General Council of the "provisional government of the
Republic of Texas" in Temple last Saturday that there are probably
hundred thousand active members of the Defense Forces.
Their purpose is first for civil defense at the county level, Turner
said. They may also be used for search and rescue, first aid, medical
assistance, etc. and are pledged to defend the borders and citizens of
ROT.
Sandy Overcash displayed Dayo, which took best of show along with first
place in the cat division of the pet show.
"We're a little bit more organized this year and we're really thankful
to our sponsors," said pet show organizer Etta Bradley.
The show was sponsored by Zavala Middle School, with students helping
individuals sign up and announcing the winners.
Local merchants sponsoring the show included Herrera Insurance, Gibson
True Value, the Pecos Chamber of Commerce and Wal-Mart.
In the large dogs category, Cindy Gaab and her dog Cody took first
place, second place went to John Smith and his dog, Bandit and third
place was netted by Clayton Cox and his dog, Bleve.
Amanda Armstrong's pet dog, Chiquita, placed first in the small dog
division with second place going to Jeremy Jackson's dog Orphan.
Sarah Clark's dog, Baby, took third place.
After Dayo in the cats division, Kelsey Gamboa and her cat, Tye,
finished second. Third place went to Teddi Salcido and her cat, Tiger.
In the exotic pets division, David Madril placed first with his pet
parrot named Chico. Spot, the hermit crab, took second place and was
shown by Justin and Kylie Owen and Arnold the turtle netted third.
William Moody is the owner of Arnold.
Culinary events were also judged during the first day of Fall Fair
events at the Reeves County Civic Center. First place, special exhibit
went to Glenda Willis; second, Glenda Willis and third place went to
Marian Evans.
In the canning division, Marian Cook and second place went to Margie
Williamson.
Knitting and crocheting enthusiasts included first place winner, Sharon
Gooding, second place winner, Marilyn Johnson and third place, Helen
Fobbs. Honorable Mention winner was Sharon Gooding.
Baby items, in the knitting and crocheting division winners were Marilyn
Johnson and Juanita Arredondo.
Quilting wall hangings honors went to Kathy Paschal for her three
beautiful quilts which are on display inside the civic center.
In the quilts division, Paschal placed first and second and Laura Teal
took third.
In the clothing construction, Laura Teal placed both first and second.
Counted cross stitch winners were Ann Boicurt and Laura Teal, tie for
first; Laura Teal second; and Ann Boicurt, third.
Homerlain Shaw placed first in the plastic canvas division and in the
Holiday Ceramics, Elmore Teal placed first; Rudy Garcia, second and
Elmore Teal, third.
Ceramics, southwest, Rudy Garcia placed first and second.
In the paintings division, first, second, third and honorable mention
all went to Margie Williamson.
Photography winners were R.L. Tellez and Margie Williamson. Honorable
mention winner was Crissy Dominguez.
Household accessories winners were Lucy Gonzales and Susan Gahr.
Best of show was Sharon Gooding with a flag Afghan. Special exhibit
award went to Ann Boicourt for a patriotic cross stitch.
Youth culinary winners included Amanda Armstrong, who earned an
honorable mention in canning. In the candies division, Amanda Armstrong
placed first; Kaci Harrison, second and Amanda Armstrong, third.
Cookie winners were GeNelle Willis, Joshua Kesey and Jacob Kesey, first,
second and third, respectively.
Cakes division winners were Jonathan Kesey and Amanda Armstrong.
Best of Show went to Jonathan Kesey.
Youth clothing construction winner was GeNelle Willis, who also took the
knitting/crocheting and youth handicrafts divisions.
High Thursday 87, low last night 53. Tonight, clear. Low in the mid 50s.
South wind 5-15 mph. Saturday, sunny. High in the upper 80s. South wind
10-20 mph and gusty.
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Copyright 1996 by Pecos Enterprise
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