On September 10, 2009 we heard of the launching of a new joint mission by Governor Rick Perry to deal with what has been characterized as escalating drug trafficking occurring on the Texas-Mexican border. His efforts would consist of sending as many as 200 highly trained personnel from the National Guard. They in turn would join “strike teams” of state police and Texas Rangers. The team operation was referred to as Operation Recon.
It’s been almost a month since this announcement was made and it is not known whether such operation ever materialized. What is known is that the Eagle Pass – Piedras Negras area had seen an increase of law enforcement personnel in months before the announcement. Judging simply from news accounts, it appears that arrests have increased, more so now that in the past.
It’s also known that many more have been arrested in local areas where short term drug warehousing occurred. A large amount of these arrests occurred as a result of calls from the public, especially from those living in those areas.
In the meantime, we wait to hear more about Operation Recon.
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Thursday, October 08, 2009
Court imposed community service
It’s late at night. Actually, its 1:13am and I have viewed all my networking pages including Facebook, Tweeter, YouTube and my email. I have had plenty of random thoughts today but nothing stuck.
I did give some thought to the final outcome to the student’s case before the municipal judge for minors in possession (of alcohol). I was hoping to make it to Eagle Pass and listen to both sides.
From the prosecutor’s side, I felt that proving possession might be the major obstacle especially arresting 50 people at one time. I wondered if each student was seen with a container in hand or did they admit it to the arresting officers. Was the student advised of his/her right to remain silent thus thwarting an admission of guilt? Then there is that thing called constructive possession, which I don’t understand but kept coming up.
And then what I read about the defense’s argument centered on the legality of officers going onto the property without probable cause. Personally I felt that was a weak point since calls had been made and could they have seen minors with cans and then decided to intervene.
Regardless, the final outcome was a win – win conclusion. These minors got a much lesser charge after the possession charge was dropped and replaced with disorderly conduct. But what was on my mind today was not only all that but the additional court ordered community service imposed on the students. What has been mentioned is that they must go before students (age unknown at this time) and try to convince them of the evil ways of drinking. Will they be able to get their point across? Are they really aware of the total ramifications of what could have happened? More importantly, remorse. Is there any remorse or is it a badge of honor or a rite of passage. And most importantly, does every parent want his or her kids to sit through such a possibility.
I did give some thought to the final outcome to the student’s case before the municipal judge for minors in possession (of alcohol). I was hoping to make it to Eagle Pass and listen to both sides.
From the prosecutor’s side, I felt that proving possession might be the major obstacle especially arresting 50 people at one time. I wondered if each student was seen with a container in hand or did they admit it to the arresting officers. Was the student advised of his/her right to remain silent thus thwarting an admission of guilt? Then there is that thing called constructive possession, which I don’t understand but kept coming up.
And then what I read about the defense’s argument centered on the legality of officers going onto the property without probable cause. Personally I felt that was a weak point since calls had been made and could they have seen minors with cans and then decided to intervene.
Regardless, the final outcome was a win – win conclusion. These minors got a much lesser charge after the possession charge was dropped and replaced with disorderly conduct. But what was on my mind today was not only all that but the additional court ordered community service imposed on the students. What has been mentioned is that they must go before students (age unknown at this time) and try to convince them of the evil ways of drinking. Will they be able to get their point across? Are they really aware of the total ramifications of what could have happened? More importantly, remorse. Is there any remorse or is it a badge of honor or a rite of passage. And most importantly, does every parent want his or her kids to sit through such a possibility.
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