Gilmer Hernandez

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Guillermo F. Hernandez, better known as Gilmer Hernandez, is a former Sheriff’s Deputy of Edwards County, Texas from Rocksprings, Texas who was convicted of violation of civil rights of an illegal alien.

1 Border incident and prosecution
2 Reaction
3 References
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Border incident and prosecution

On April 14, 2005, Deputy Hernandez stopped a vehicle for running a red light. After coming to a stop, the driver who had hidden several illegal aliens in his vehicle tried to run the approaching Hernandez over and to flee when Hernandez fired several shots at the vehicle aiming for the tires. One of the bullets injured one of the hidden passengers.^[1]

The initial investigation by the Texas Rangers and members of the AFT cleared Hernandez of any wrongdoing.^[2] However, over a year later, the US Department of Justice reopened the case under US Attorney Johnny Sutton. On December 1, 2006 Hernandez was convicted for violation of civil rights of the injured illegal person.^[2] Hernandez was sentenced to a prison term of 12 months and one day.^[3]

[edit] Reaction

The verdict has stunned the community^[1] and triggered widespread responses.

Texas Congressman Ted Poe defended the officer by stating that the “Federal Government is more concerned about people illegally invading America than it is about the men who protect America. Once again, our government is on the wrong side of the border war.” ^[4]

A petition has been initiated to pardon Hernandez.^[5]

The case has been linked to those of convicted border guards Ignacio Ramos and Jose Complean by dubbing them “The Texas Three”,^[1] all involved in Mexican border incidents with smuggling, illegal aliens, use of firearms, and prosecuted by Johnny Sutton . According to AMW, action on part of the Mexican government demanding that the "crime" will not be unpunished may have pressured the prosecution.^[1]