Thread: Jurors sentence HPD officers killer ( illegal )to life

May 20, 2008, 2:04PM
Jurors sentence HPD officer's killer to life


By BRIAN ROGERS
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News

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Jurors decided today that Juan Leonardo Quintero should spend the rest of his life in prison, rather than go to death row, for the 2006 murder of Houston police Officer Rodney Johnson.

The decision came in the second day of deliberations for the jury, which convicted Quintero of capital murder on May 8 in the court of state District Judge Joan Campbell.

Quintero, 34, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

The decision shocked the officer's brother, David Johnson, who said he had wanted the convicted killer sentenced to death.

``He shot him four times in the back, three times in the head,'' Johnson said. ``I can't believe that. What's mitigation?''

Testimony showed Quintero shot Johnson seven times from the backseat of the officer's patrol car on Sept. 21, 2006, while his hands were cuffed behind his back.

Johnson had arrested the illegal immigrant from Mexico during a traffic stop for not having a driver's license.

The officer searched Quintero before placing him in the car, but missed a 9mm pistol tucked in his waistband.

Quintero had been driving home after work with his two stepdaughters and a co-worker. He was drinking beer while driving a truck that belonged to his employer, landscaper Robert Lane Camp, testimony showed.

Camp has been indicted on federal charges of harboring an illegal immigrant. Johnson's family also has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Camp and his company.

Jurors began deliberating at noon Monday and were sequestered overnight.

In closing arguments, prosecutors said Quintero should pay for his crime with his life, while his defense lawyer asked jurors to use their own moral compass to find mercy for Quintero.

To show a past criminal history, prosecutors pointed out that Quintero had several DWI convictions and was deported after pleading guilty to indecency with a 12-year-old girl in 1999.

The jury has not heard any details of that crime.

brian.rogers@chron.com



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They should be burying this scumbag also .

How could he NOT have gotten the death penalty? He shot the cop in the BACK! How much mercy did he show the officer? Disgusting!

This will cost the US taxpayers another $2 million.

It took since 2006 to give this scum 3 squares a day and a roof over his head?

WHAT??!! There's not a better reason for the death penalty than this case!
Quintero should be a poster child for the death penalty!

I'm betting that somone chickened out on giving him the death penalty for
fear that the Mexican government would start raising hell. Now my tax
dollars have to go to feeding and housing that dirtbag.

Def

Let's not forget. "Cinco de Agosto" (five of August)

Tuesday, Aug. 05 2008. Execution date for Jose Medellin for raping and murdering two little girls!


Jose Medellin puede usted descomponerse en infierno. Adiós
Jose Medellin may you rot in H__L. Goodbye

Off with his head!! One good thing about life in jail is that their is a lot of time to get raped and murderd.