Thread: Illegal immigrant's plea offer for killing officer rejected

...Officer shot while sitting in patrol car...


Monday, April 28, 2008

HOUSTON — An illegal immigrant accused of killing a Houston police officer might still face the death penalty after prosecutors rejected his offer to plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence without parole.

Juan Leonardo Quintero-Perez, 34, is set to begin his capital murder trial today in the death of Officer Rodney Johnson during a traffic stop in 2006. He is accused of shooting Johnson four times in the head after being arrested for driving without a license.

Danalynn Recer, an attorney for Quintero-Perez, told the Houston Chronicle that the Mexican citizen confessed to the killing and accepts responsibility for his actions. She said he would agree to all the evidence against him if offered life without parole.

But Harris County prosecutors said Saturday that they will proceed with the trial.

"We trust the judgment of 12 citizens to determine the appropriate punishment for the man who executed Officer Johnson," Assistant District Attorney Denise Bradley said.

Bradley said Quintero-Perez is expected to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.

Police said Johnson, 40, was shot while sitting in the front seat of his patrol car after Quintero-Perez pulled a gun from his waistband as he sat handcuffed in the back of the car. Johnson apparently missed the gun when he patted down Quintero-Perez, authorities said.

Johnson's shooting renewed criticism of the Houston Police Department's policy that only allows officers to ask about immigration status after arresting a suspect.

Quintero-Perez was deported in 1999 after being convicted a year earlier of indecency with a child.
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Off with his head!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He should've thought about it before he pumped 4 bullets into the officer's head. This man deserves the death penalty NOW! He's admitted to the crime.

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