Thread: L.A.-Area City Official Charged in Alleged Plot to Kill Coun

http://www.latimes.com/news/printeditio ... california

Here's an earlier article from about a week ago.

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ht=maywood

L.A.-Area City Official Charged in Alleged Plot to Kill Councilman Who Backed Sanctuary for Illegals
Deputy city clerk Hector Duarte allegedly targeted a councilman who declared Maywood a sanctuary for illegal immigrants.
By Hector Becerra
Times Staff Writer

July 22, 2006

Prosecutors on Friday charged the deputy city clerk of Maywood with soliciting the murder of an outspoken councilman who has spearheaded the city's efforts to improve treatment of illegal immigrants.

Prosecutors allege that Hector Duarte sent threatening letters to Councilman Felipe Aguirre after he made national headlines for his efforts to make the small city south of downtown a sanctuary for illegal immigrants.

The letters criticized Aguirre's stance, but authorities contend that Duarte was really motivated by concerns about possible budget cuts that might reduce salaries or cost him his job.

They maintain that Duarte asked around to see whether anyone would be willing to kill Aguirre. Aguirre said the alleged plot came to light after a man was arrested a month ago during a drug bust and told police about the reputed solicitation.

Duarte is expected to be arraigned Monday and could not be reached for comment.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Sandi Roth of the Public Integrity Division declined to elaborate on details of the case.

The 29-year-old Duarte is a promoter and announcer at boxing events who grew up in the densely populated city.

Friends said he was frustrated by a shift in political power in Maywood to politicians led by Aguirre, 53, and Mayor Thomas Martin.

Duarte opposed the mayor's aggressive support for the rights of illegal immigrants and is also charged with making threatening phone calls to him.

Maywood police have been guarding Aguirre since the case was made public last week.

"I don't know why someone would want to do this, to tell you the truth," he said. "Solicitation of murder, that's major, major leagues."

Aguirre, who runs an immigrant rights center in Maywood, was elected last year and helped tip the balance of political power in the city after a rambunctious election.

Since then, Maywood's government has been divided on many issues, but none as publicly as illegal immigration.

Aguirre has declared the city a sanctuary for illegal immigrants.

In recent months, the city eliminated its Police Department's Traffic Division after complaints were made that officers unfairly targeted illegal immigrants.

Then the city made it much more difficult for police to tow cars from owners who didn't have driver's licenses, a practice that had primarily affected illegal immigrants who could not obtain licenses.

In January, the City Council passed a resolution opposing a proposed federal law that would criminalize illegal immigration and make local police enforce immigration laws.

The actions created conflict at City Hall. Duarte told The Times earlier this year that he was concerned about the council's stance.

Councilman Sam Peña, who has butted heads with Aguirre on several issues, said Friday that he did not believe the charges against Duarte.

He said Maywood Police Chief Bruce Leflar called him soon after the arrest.

"I questioned the chief. I said, 'I hope we got all our pieces covered,' " Peña said. "He said, 'We have the notes and we do have some traces from his house to other locations.' … They need to have some hard-core evidence."

Maywood is one of the nation's most densely populated cities — nearly 45,000 people live in 1.2 square miles. An estimated 96% of the residents are Latino, and more than half are foreign-born.

For his part, Aguirre said things had gotten so politically woolly in Maywood that it was time for some calm.

"We need to get to a point where we can have a dialogue with our so-called opponents," he said. "We need some clarity and peace in the city."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/monte ... 097473.htm

Posted on Sat, Jul. 22, 2006

Former official accused of trying to have SoCal councilman killed


Associated Press

MAYWOOD, Calif. - A former deputy city clerk was charged Friday with trying to hire someone to kill a Maywood city councilman.

Hector Duarte, 29, was charged with seven counts, including soliciting murder, making criminal threats and threatening a public official.

He faces more than 10 years in prison if convicted of all counts, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office said.

Prosecutors allege that Duarte tried to have Councilman Felipe Aguirre killed because he was upset about possible budget cuts that might reduce employee salaries or cost him his job.

They say Duarte left threatening messages in Aguirre's work mailbox and on Mayor Thomas Martin's cell phone.

Duarte, who was jailed on $1.3 million bail, was scheduled to be arraigned Monday.

He was arrested earlier this month by sheriff's deputies, but was released July 5 pending further investigation. He was taken into custody again late Thursday.

Police said they learned of a plot against Aguirre last month when they arrested a man during a drug bust and he told them Duarte had inquired about killing the councilman.

Investigators initially looked into the possibility Aguirre was targeted because of his positions in favor of immigrant rights.

Since his election last fall, Aguirre has joined the council majority in eliminating the Maywood Police Department's Traffic Division after complaints that officers unfairly targeted illegal immigrants. The city has also made it more difficult for police to tow cars whose owners don't have driver's licenses.

A few more articles on this lovely city.

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ht=maywood

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=16937

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ht=maywood

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ht=maywood

Prosecutors allege that Hector Duarte sent threatening letters to Councilman Felipe Aguirre after he made national headlines for his efforts to make the small city south of downtown a sanctuary for illegal immigrants.

Brian, you see how they're going to play this one....even though they did print....

The letters criticized Aguirre's stance, but authorities contend that Duarte was really motivated by concerns about possible budget cuts that might reduce salaries or cost him his job.

Aguirre said the alleged plot came to light after a man was arrested a month ago during a drug bust and told police about the reputed solicitation.

Deal making effort? Look, if it's true, shame on him and it's a crime. If it isn't, is this a method of getting rid of a gadfly?

Why isn't Aquirre being charged with breaking laws already on the books. Maywood sounds like it's just one of many law-breaking cities.