Thread: DA in Green Bay takes on O'Reilly over immigrant's release

I forgot a follow-up was on today. Did anyone see it?


http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincitie ... 414665.htm

Posted on Tue, Jan. 09, 2007

DA in Green Bay takes on O'Reilly over immigrant's release

Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis. - A local prosecutor took on television's Bill O'Reilly over his harsh criticism of the $5,000 bond set for an illegal immigrant accused of sexual assault.

The defendant had appeared in Brown County Circuit Court Jan. 2 on the charge of first-degree sexual assault of a child younger than 13, then posted the bond and failed to show up for his court appearance last Friday. He hasn't been seen since.

O'Reilly, host of Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor," learned of the case last week and blasted Court Commissioner Lawrence Gazeley for setting bail at $5,000.

He contends it should have been higher given the seriousness of the alleged crime and the status of Paulo Sheispan-Landero as an illegal immigrant.

"This is wrong," O'Reilly said when District Attorney John Zakowski went on the show Monday. "It's dumb, and now the guy is back in Monterrey, Mexico, and you ain't going to get him."

The conservative commentator said the $5,000 bond is what the court gives "pot smokers," not someone who faces charges of sexual assault of a minor and is in the country illegally.

Zakowski responded that $5,000 "in a blue-collar community such as Green Bay has proved to be an appropriate bond."

Sheispan-Landero was arrested on New Year's Eve and accused of molesting a 12-year-old girl on several occasions last year. The girl's mother alerted authorities.

O'Reilly asked Zakowski if he knew Sheispan-Landero was in the country illegally.

Zakowski said authorities could not confirm it before the bail hearing.

In the criminal complaint, the suspect's girlfriend said Sheispan-Landero had been deported but returned to the United States.

Gazeley had referred to the question of the defendant's status Jan. 2, saying he should be referred to federal prosecutors on the allegation that he was here illegally.

O'Reilly later in the segment asked Zakowski whether if the victim had been his daughter, "would you say $5,000 bond is appropriate?"

"If it was my daughter I would be climbing the walls, there's no doubt about it," Zakowski said.

Sheispan-Landero's bond has been revoked and a warrant issued for his arrest.

i saw it and it was the talking points memo and the first story of the evening. it will come on again at 4E/ 3C 1P unless they have changed the times lately