Thread: Man gets 5 years for causing border officer to fall off bike

Man gets 5 years for causing border officer to fall off bike
Louie Gilot / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 02/21/2008 12:00:00 AM MST


A Colorado man convicted of trying to run a Customs and Border Protection officer off the road last year in El Paso was sentenced to five years in prison Wednesday, but the judge said there was enough blame to go around in the case.
Luis Miguel Macias, 24, of Aurora, Colo., was convicted last fall of one count of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon and acquitted of a second assault count.

Officials with the U.S. Attorney contended that he exacted revenge on a CBP officer after the officer searched his car at the Zaragoza Bridge on May 25, 2007. Officials said Macias, driving a car, caused the officer to fall from the motorcycle he was riding home after his shift ended. The officer suffered a deep laceration to a leg requiring stitches, as well as scrapes and bruises.

In federal court Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Philip Martinez pointed out that Macias' car never made contact with the motorcycle. He also said the situation had "snowballed."

"I am not in any way blaming the victim, but poor decisions were made on both sides," Martinez said. "I still do not understand what (the officer) thought on that day."

Macias' lawyer, Gary Hill, said after the sentencing that the officer had baited Macias on the road. The incident was captured on camera by a witness who said both vehicles were traveling at high speed but that it appeared to the witness that Macias' car was at greater fault for the accident, Martinez said.

Hill said he would appeal the conviction.
Macias' sister, Diane Macias, was among the family members present at the sentencing Wednesday. She said her brother was innocent of the charges.

"It's not even true. There are a lot of people in jail that are innocent. It's sad this kind of things happen," she said.

Macias was also ordered to pay $14,500 in restitution to the officer and to Customs and Border Protection.

Louie Gilot may be reached at lgilot@elpasotimes.com; 546-6131.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_8319073?s ... ost_viewed

Macias' sister, Diane Macias, was among the family members present at the sentencing Wednesday. She said her brother was innocent of the charges.

"It's not even true. There are a lot of people in jail that are innocent. It's sad this kind of things happen," she said

Oh boo-hoo hoo. So the videotape is lying? It's always someone else's fault with the illegals isn't it?

Originally Posted by cvangel

Macias' lawyer, Gary Hill, said after the sentencing that the officer had baited Macias on the road.

How stupid is this. Someone on a motorcycle is not going to "bait" a car driver, they know the car always wins.

Originally Posted by miguelina

Macias' sister, Diane Macias, was among the family members present at the sentencing Wednesday. She said her brother was innocent of the charges.

"It's not even true. There are a lot of people in jail that are innocent. It's sad this kind of things happen," she said

Oh boo-hoo hoo. So the videotape is lying? It's always someone else's fault with the illegals isn't it?

It didn't happen? Video tape? Are you blind lady?

Macias was also ordered to pay $14,500 in restitution to the officer and to Customs and Border Protection.

So how does he do this? Borrow it from the taxpayers?