Thread: Suspect could soon face murder charges in death of border ag

Suspect could soon face murder charges in death of border agent

Posted: Apr 26, 2011 8:01 PM CDT
Updated: Apr 27, 2011 1:17 PM CDT

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) – The U.S. Attorney's office could soon file murder charges against a Mexican man who was gravely wounded during the shooting of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.

A federal judge has sealed the court records for Manuel Osorio-Arellanes. He was arrested near the murder scene but has only been charged in the with illegally re-entering the country.

Shortly after the December 14th shooting, court records showed Osorio-Arellanes told the FBI he raised his gun at the agents but did not shoot when he realized who they were.

Bates Butler III is a former U.S. Attorney for Arizona. He is not connected to Terry's murder investigation. According to Butler, the judge's legal maneuvering to seal the records suggests he may have agreed to murder charges on the condition the feds give him a lesser sentence such as life in prison. Butler claimed the judge's actions also suggest Osorio-Arellanes is cooperating as a witness but is not the killer.

"They don't want to advertise who he has named as a suspect or that he's cooperating," said Butler. "You don't make a deal with the guy that actually pulled the trigger."

He also said those court records could stay sealed until the feds arrest the real triggerman.

"So they're going to seal the record until they can proceed further with the information which also suggests the other person or persons are not in custody," Butler said.

As for when murder charges could be filed? Butler told 9 On Your Side that generally happens within weeks from when a judge seals a defendant's records.

http://www.kgun9.com/story/14520255/age ... ected=true

that second paragraph saying the records are sealed.
from who, or from what?

What do you want to bet he only gets charged for illegal re-entry like the other three that were with him that fateful night