Post by coletti on Jul 28, 2005 15:21:34 GMT -5
[/glow][glow=red,2,300]The breakup of an intimate relationship between a prison guard and a former inmate led to a kidnapping plan involving the Mexican Mafia prison gang, according to testimony at a court hearing yesterday.
The hearing before Judge Esteban Hernandez is to decide if there is sufficient evidence to try Steve Domingo Parraz, 25, Rodney Dewayne Brooks, 32, and Richard Charles Buchanan, 50, on a variety of charges, including kidnapping for ransom, making criminal threats and assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
Prosecutor David Bost told the judge that Buchanan is a proven member of the Mexican Mafia.
Jessica Chavez, who quit her job as a guard at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility on Otay Mesa over her role in the case, testified that Brooks was a "sleeper," or a member of the gang but not recognized as such by authorities while in prison.
If tried and convicted of all charges, the three men face a maximum penalty of life in prison, Bost said.
Chavez, in a plea agreement last month, admitted making criminal threats and agreed to testify against the three men in exchange for more serious charges being dropped, Bost said. He said she has yet to be sentenced and faces up to three years in prison.
Chavez was placed on administrative leave in September and testified that she resigned in February.
Chavez testified that she became friendly with Ernesto Torres, another inmate at Donovan and their relationship became intimate when he was released from prison in May 2004.
Soon afterward, she said she tried to break off the relationship when Torres began using drugs and became aggressive. She testified that Torres refused, began stalking her and made threatening phone calls.
Chavez said that while still working as a guard, she became friendly with defendant Brooks, who offered to get Torres to stop bothering her. She testified that Brooks made several phone calls to Torres but Torres kept bothering her.
Brooks then enlisted the aid of Buchanan, who she said also telephoned Torres. Buchanan "was the big homey" while he was in prison, directing the actions of others connected to the Mexican Mafia, Chavez testified.
FBI officials have said that the gang, also known as "La Eme," is considered to be the largest and most established prison gang in the country,
Prosecutors have charged Buchanan and Parraz with kidnapping Torres Aug. 25, 2005, after they were released from prison. They were arrested in Chula Vista with Torres in a car driven by Buchanan.
Police have said that Buchanan was already being watched by undercover officers as part of a four-year investigation into the Mexican Mafia.
The court hearing is scheduled to resume today. [/glow]
The hearing before Judge Esteban Hernandez is to decide if there is sufficient evidence to try Steve Domingo Parraz, 25, Rodney Dewayne Brooks, 32, and Richard Charles Buchanan, 50, on a variety of charges, including kidnapping for ransom, making criminal threats and assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
Prosecutor David Bost told the judge that Buchanan is a proven member of the Mexican Mafia.
Jessica Chavez, who quit her job as a guard at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility on Otay Mesa over her role in the case, testified that Brooks was a "sleeper," or a member of the gang but not recognized as such by authorities while in prison.
If tried and convicted of all charges, the three men face a maximum penalty of life in prison, Bost said.
Chavez, in a plea agreement last month, admitted making criminal threats and agreed to testify against the three men in exchange for more serious charges being dropped, Bost said. He said she has yet to be sentenced and faces up to three years in prison.
Chavez was placed on administrative leave in September and testified that she resigned in February.
Chavez testified that she became friendly with Ernesto Torres, another inmate at Donovan and their relationship became intimate when he was released from prison in May 2004.
Soon afterward, she said she tried to break off the relationship when Torres began using drugs and became aggressive. She testified that Torres refused, began stalking her and made threatening phone calls.
Chavez said that while still working as a guard, she became friendly with defendant Brooks, who offered to get Torres to stop bothering her. She testified that Brooks made several phone calls to Torres but Torres kept bothering her.
Brooks then enlisted the aid of Buchanan, who she said also telephoned Torres. Buchanan "was the big homey" while he was in prison, directing the actions of others connected to the Mexican Mafia, Chavez testified.
FBI officials have said that the gang, also known as "La Eme," is considered to be the largest and most established prison gang in the country,
Prosecutors have charged Buchanan and Parraz with kidnapping Torres Aug. 25, 2005, after they were released from prison. They were arrested in Chula Vista with Torres in a car driven by Buchanan.
Police have said that Buchanan was already being watched by undercover officers as part of a four-year investigation into the Mexican Mafia.
The court hearing is scheduled to resume today. [/glow]