Waco: Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession Charge

A man originally charged after the discovery of 1,000 marijuana plants growing in a Central Texas field pleaded guilty Monday in Waco to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

Reporter: Paul J. Gately


WACO (November 7, 2011)-A Hearne man pleaded guilty in federal court Monday in Waco to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

Bernardo Lara originally was charged in connection with the discovery of more than 1,000 marijuana plants growing in a Central Texas field, but a superseding indictment replaced that charge with illegal possession of a firearm and illegal re-entry into the United States.

Lara pleaded guilty to both charges Monday in federal court and U.S. District Judge Walter S. Smith set his sentencing for Jan. 11.

The original charged stemmed from an investigation that was begun by a Department of Public Safety after Department of Public Safety investigators discovered a field of more than 1,000 marijuana plants near Hearne.

The superseding indictment was handed up after agents discovered Lara was not legally in this country and that he possessed a firearm.

Lara actually was set to stand trial Monday after Smith refused to accept his plea last Friday.

But as jury selection began Monday morning, Lara again asked the judge to accept his guilty plea and this time the judge agreed.

http://oneoldvet.com/

www.kwtx.com