Nifonging John Monti?

By: RICHARD KIRK - For the North County Times
October 22, 2007



Was John Monti Nifonged? Or perhaps one should ask if John Monti is being Nifonged?

Mike Nifong was the district attorney who rabidly pursued bogus rape charges against three Duke lacrosse players in order to bolster his political fortunes among African-Americans in North Carolina's Durham County. Nifong won the race for re-election but later lost his job and law license when evidence of prosecutorial misconduct became overwhelming.

It is unlikely that Monti, the bilingual East Los Angeles schoolteacher recently prosecuted for assaulting day laborers in Rancho Penasquitos on Nov. 18, 2006, will receive the same vindication as the lacrosse trio. Last month a jury found John Monti not guilty of charges brought against him by the office of San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre. But the nature of Monti's case, though it smacks of political opportunism, makes it harder to prove that the camera-loving city attorney pursued Monti to punish anti-illegal alien groups.

The incident in question began when Monti and some day laborers got into a scuffle over pictures that Monti was taking of them. Obviously, taking snapshots of folks who might be here illegally isn't a way to make friends. But Monti says his efforts were motivated by his belief that young girls were being sexually abused in nearby migrant camps.

News reports of the fight that day suggested that Monti came out on the short end of the stick - a not surprising result if the he-them ratio was around eight to one. Cuts and bruises, however, were the only injuries Monti sustained.

The police report taken that day might have been the end of the matter had not Monti filed a grand jury complaint against the San Diego Police Department for failing to investigate human trafficking and child prostitution in McGonigle Canyon. That complaint was filed March 1. Four weeks later (and four months after the original incident) Aguirre's office put out a press bulletin announcing in bold letters that charges were being filed “Against a member of the Minutemen Project."

Monti was not, in fact, a member of the Minutemen, though he was affiliated with the anti-illegal group, Save Our State. Still, by erroneously highlighting the Minutemen, Aguirre's office bolstered the suspicion that impartial legal judgment wasn't what informed its prosecutorial decision. What later become clear was that the case against Monti was actively promoted by Claudia Smith, an open border activist and executive director of California Rural Legal Assistance in Oceanside.

At trial some laborers testified that it was Monti who was attacked - a point of view echoed by four 911 calls that were played in court and later aired on Roger Hedgecock's radio program. Monti's photos also helped convince jurors that testimony against him sometimes failed to pass the smell test.

Having been declared "not guilty" by a jury, Monti now faces a civil suit brought by the same CRLA lawyer who appeared with Claudia Smith when she announced on Fox News what Aguirre was going to do, prosecution-wise - two weeks later.

Oceanside resident Richard Kirk is a freelance columnist for the North County Times. Contact him at kirkrg@netzero.com.

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BRAVO! wrote on Oct 23, 2007 9:16 AM" A Righteous Pen does exist at the NCT's and its commander is Richard Kirk who so eloquently and truthfully exposed the evil forces arrayed against human rights activist, John Monti. Thank you Mr. Kirk for telling the truth that the advocates for illegal aliens have been desperately trying to hide, distort and pervert for so long. Can we clone you at the editorial board at NCT's? What a breath of fresh air you are, sir! "

GFN wrote on Oct 23, 2007 10:43 AM:" Thank you, Mr. Kirk, for exposing this travesty. "

Thank You NCT! wrote on Oct 23, 2007 11:21 AM:" For reporting the truth about the alien activists and their ties to the CA and DA! Its about time the truth comes out! "

Brook wrote on Oct 23, 2007 3:37 PM:" Thank you Mr. Kirk! John Monti was maliciously prosecuted. It is nice to see some of the facts come out instead of a rehash of the false allegations. I heard the 911 calls played on the radio and it was clear that Monti was the one who was attacked, not the other way around. It is also important to note that three of the day laborers testified in court against the others. They stated that Monti did not attack anyone or use racial slurs. Monti teaches English learners and has done more for the immigrant community than Claudia Smith ever will. "

Shocking Videos! wrote on Oct 23, 2007 3:44 PM:" I just saw some shocking videos about John Monti and Claudia Smith on YouTube on the SDMinutemen site. Wow, those canyon camps need to be cleared now! Fire danger and the prostitution going on. Disgusting! "

Haydee wrote on Oct 23, 2007 3:57 PM:" Richard: Congratulations to the North County Times! They are finally getting REAL journalists to report the news in the community instead of fiction writers! Keep up the good work, Richard. The people need to hear the truth of what's going on in their communities. "

Kudos to Kirk wrote on Oct 23, 2007 3:59 PM:" I hope you keep up on this travesty, Mr Kirk. Yes, Gilleon and Claudia are NOW filing another frivolous lawsuit against Monti. Maybe when this one fails as well, John can destroy them, as is SO richly deserved. With the help of honest, forthright people like YOU Mr. Kirk, justice can and will prevail. "

Talking points wrote on Oct 23, 2007 5:36 PM:" Protesting in front of the NCTimes building seems to work! First they print something by a sympathetic columnist, then 86 any negative comments on the blogs. (I submitted one about ten hours ago). The U-T called SDMM "intolerant bullies", but bullying works. "

Monti's Revenge! wrote on Oct 23, 2007 6:27 PM:" I imagine that John Monti will be filing a lawsuit against the city of San Diego for this false prosecution. City Attorney Michael Aguirre tried to destory an innocent man and send him to prison. I'm sure Mr. Monti's reputation has suffered from these false allegations. He deserves compensation and Aguirre should be disbarred. "

SD Christians for Secure Borders wrote on Oct 23, 2007 8:08 PM:" Thank you Mr. Kirk for speaking the truth. A few more succinct articles by American patriots like you, and perhaps we can see a way to get our country back from the traitorous and treasonous 'Nifongs' among us. God Bless and Godspeed. "

Part of a larger picture wrote on Oct 24, 2007 9:19 AM:" This story, along with the Duke lacrosse case, is part of a larger picture played out all too often these days: the white man is being constantly demonized as a racist aggressor. The prejudice that you see directed towards the white community is truly motived by hate. And this hate is fueled by the bogus idea that white people living today are responsible for what their ancestors did in the slave trade hundreds of years ago. This has really gotten out of control. The Hispanic community is allowed to have an organizion literally translated to mean "The Race" (La Raza) because it promotes the dogma of diversity and multi-culturalism, but if the Caucasian community founded such an organization it would be labelled as The Klan. It seems as though Caucasians who want to promote success in their communities are automatically labelled racists. It's unfair! "

WOW! wrote on Oct 24, 2007 10:16 AM:" What happened to the NCT?? Did a visit from some irate citizens waving Old Glory wake up NTC management?? We shall see how long fair and balanced continues. Keep it up and NTC readership will increase. Thank you American Citizen Richard Kirk!! "

Jeff M wrote on Oct 24, 2007 1:03 PM:" Well, can it be the NC Times has finally produced a somewhat balanced article? About time. "

Cheryl wrote on Oct 24, 2007 7:39 PM:" Finally, some truth! NCT: We've seen enough of the Minutemen-bashing articles! Thank you Mr. Kirk! "

Skip wrote on Oct 24, 2007 7:43 PM:" Six undocumented Mexican immigrants were arrested today by U.S. Border Patrol agents at Qualcomm Stadium, after a report that they were stealing food and water meant for evacuees, Border Patrol spokesman Damon Foreman said. San Diego police responded to a call about alleged theft from the evacuation center and encountered six people in a van who didn't speak English and didn't have California driver's licenses, Foreman said. The police officers called the Border Patrol, and its agents arrived at the stadium and made the arrests, he said. Border Patrol agents are not looking for illegal immigrants at the center but will continue responding to police calls for assistance. "

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