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ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT PLEADS GUILTY TO SHOOTING DPS TROOPER
By: CASEY KNAUPP, Staff Writer
07/18/2006

An illegal immigrant pleaded guilty to shooting a DPS trooper Tuesday just moments before his jury trial was set to begin.

Ramon Armando Ramos, 38, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault against a public servant for shooting Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Steven Stone on March 22.

The Smith County jury selected Monday to hear the case was released by 114th District Judge Cynthia Stevens Kent, who will hear evidence on punishment Tuesday afternoon.

Stone, wearing his arm in a sling after undergoing surgery recently, was in the courtroom with about 30 other people, including other law enforcement, family and friends.

Ramos faces 25 years to life in prison because he has two prior convictions that include federal gun violations.

He is also charged with 13 additional aggravated assault on public servant charges for shooting at Tyler police during a pursuit and shootout following Stone's shooting. Ramos, a Mexican citizen, has also pleaded guilty in federal court to being an illegal alien.

Francisco Saucedo, who was in the car with him and also allegedly shot at Stone and the other officers, is also charged with 14 counts of the first-degree felony.

Stone was patrolling Texas Highway 31 when he made a traffic stop involving a speeding pickup. During the stop, while trying to arrest Ramos, Saucedo distracted Stone and Ramos pulled a gun out and began shooting at him, police said.

The men shot Stone several times and left him on the side of the road. Shortly after, Tyler police located the pickup and engaged in a gun battle during a chase that ended when the suspects hit another motorist on Texas 64 East.

Both men were wearing body armor and were armed with multiple weapons.

Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham and First Assistant DA April Sikes are prosecuting the case while Leslie McLean is defending Ramos.