http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/15308931.htm

Posted on Fri, Aug. 18, 2006

Undocumented immigrant arrested in El Paso County homicide


Associated Press

EL PASO, Texas - An illegal Mexican immigrant who was previously deported after a felony conviction was arrested Friday on charges that he strangled an elderly West Texas woman.

Juan L. Leal, 29, was charged with murder in the death of Asuncion Flores Montes, 78, who died Aug. 12 at her home in Socorro. Authorities initially believed Montes died of natural causes, but El Paso County Sheriff's spokesman Rick Glancey said an autopsy concluded that she was strangled and had suffered a head injury.

Few other details about the case were released.

State criminal records show that Leal was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in El Paso in 2002. He served about two years in state prison before being released to federal immigration officials in April 2005.

Leal was then deported as an "aggravated felon," according to Border Patrol spokesman Patrick Berry.

Glancey said Leal's arrest also included an outstanding warrant charging him with violating a protective order and making a terroristic threat in July 2005.

Leal remained in El Paso County jail on $500,000 bail.

Federal authorities have also placed an immigration hold on Leal, said Leticia Zamarripa, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in El Paso.