Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Ray Hill in a Quandary
Kudos to Houston Police for catching a pair who had been robbing mainly adult bookstores and videos. The article talks about how more victims are being sought mainly because they don't want to have to admit being in a bookstore. Amazingly enough, the chronicle manages to drag Ray Hill out of the woodwork. This time, Ray Hill is;
"Ray Hill, who has been a consultant and lobbyist for adult businesses, said police should have captured the men sooner."
First of all, the fact that these guys are caught is testimony that the police were working. Hill is just trying to get some free press. Besides, I'm surprised Ray Hill even cares about crime victims. In the past he has been the chronicle's "convict advocate" and "criminal justice advocate." Ray Hill did time in prison for burglary. Meaning at one point in his life he felt righteous and justified breaking into other peoples' homes and stealing their stuff. He went on champion rights for inmates because they weren't being treated kindly enough. He does (or did) a show on KPFT called the prison show or something like that. Where they talk about how sad inmate life is and for their families. While I see how their families can be affected, I wonder if anyone on that show stopped to consider two things. First, the victims' families. As usual people who stand for prisoners rights usually have little or nothing to say about the people they hurt. Second, if the convicts' families were so important to the convict why didn't said convict think about them before pulling that trigger, or robbing that individual/store? Anyhow, it's hard to tell where Ray's convictions lie. See, Ray is a gay man. Not that I, nor anyone else should care. However, remember Paul Broussard? He was the victim of a gay bashing murder back in 1991. A group of punks came down to the Montrose area looking for gays to attack. They found Mr. Broussard and friends and went on the attack. Mr. Broussard was brutally murdered. A crime that deserved the death penalty in my opinion.
"In a strange twist, the killers have an advocate in longtime Houston gay activist Ray Hill, who has befriended the men since their imprisonment."
Wow! I would imagine that even Ray would support keeping those animals locked up, but I guess his love for criminals takes precedence over his own sexual orientation.
"What we have is a bunch of teenagers, drunk and stoned -- chemicals played a major role in this -- who came to Houston from The Woodlands," Hill said."
Ahh, the old "it's not their fault" argument. I love how these 'advocates' are telling society to just suck it up and let predators loose.
"Hill said Thursday that he has contacted a lawyer to try to stop the Aguirres' deportation. "
According to the link, the Aguirres are 'Mexican nationals' (meaning illegals). So Ray thinks illegal aliens who commit murder ought to be welcomed in our homes.
Now, Ray is bashing police for "dragging their heels" because the victims of these two predators were seedy establishments. I didn't think Ray would want either one of these guys to spend time in prison since life there is so horrible. Perhaps there were chemicals involved and they were just bored and out looking for trouble. I guess Ray doesn't know one of the robbers has been in the pen like he was. Well, later on Ray will be championing for their release and will become their best friend. I wonder if Ray stumbled upon a man raping a woman in the middle of the street what would he do? Would he actually help the woman? Would he call 911? Or would he help hold the woman's feet so she couldn't kick her attacker?
"Ray Hill, who has been a consultant and lobbyist for adult businesses, said police should have captured the men sooner."
First of all, the fact that these guys are caught is testimony that the police were working. Hill is just trying to get some free press. Besides, I'm surprised Ray Hill even cares about crime victims. In the past he has been the chronicle's "convict advocate" and "criminal justice advocate." Ray Hill did time in prison for burglary. Meaning at one point in his life he felt righteous and justified breaking into other peoples' homes and stealing their stuff. He went on champion rights for inmates because they weren't being treated kindly enough. He does (or did) a show on KPFT called the prison show or something like that. Where they talk about how sad inmate life is and for their families. While I see how their families can be affected, I wonder if anyone on that show stopped to consider two things. First, the victims' families. As usual people who stand for prisoners rights usually have little or nothing to say about the people they hurt. Second, if the convicts' families were so important to the convict why didn't said convict think about them before pulling that trigger, or robbing that individual/store? Anyhow, it's hard to tell where Ray's convictions lie. See, Ray is a gay man. Not that I, nor anyone else should care. However, remember Paul Broussard? He was the victim of a gay bashing murder back in 1991. A group of punks came down to the Montrose area looking for gays to attack. They found Mr. Broussard and friends and went on the attack. Mr. Broussard was brutally murdered. A crime that deserved the death penalty in my opinion.
"In a strange twist, the killers have an advocate in longtime Houston gay activist Ray Hill, who has befriended the men since their imprisonment."
Wow! I would imagine that even Ray would support keeping those animals locked up, but I guess his love for criminals takes precedence over his own sexual orientation.
"What we have is a bunch of teenagers, drunk and stoned -- chemicals played a major role in this -- who came to Houston from The Woodlands," Hill said."
Ahh, the old "it's not their fault" argument. I love how these 'advocates' are telling society to just suck it up and let predators loose.
"Hill said Thursday that he has contacted a lawyer to try to stop the Aguirres' deportation. "
According to the link, the Aguirres are 'Mexican nationals' (meaning illegals). So Ray thinks illegal aliens who commit murder ought to be welcomed in our homes.
Now, Ray is bashing police for "dragging their heels" because the victims of these two predators were seedy establishments. I didn't think Ray would want either one of these guys to spend time in prison since life there is so horrible. Perhaps there were chemicals involved and they were just bored and out looking for trouble. I guess Ray doesn't know one of the robbers has been in the pen like he was. Well, later on Ray will be championing for their release and will become their best friend. I wonder if Ray stumbled upon a man raping a woman in the middle of the street what would he do? Would he actually help the woman? Would he call 911? Or would he help hold the woman's feet so she couldn't kick her attacker?
Friday, December 19, 2008
Shelton Update...
I'm glad I wasn't alone in my disbelief at Elizabeth Shelton et. al.'s gall in filing her should-be frivolous lawsuit. Defense attorney Mark Bennett has an excellent post in his blog. He also has additional information that is very interesting about the attorney representing Shelton who is Mark Sandoval. According to the post, Sandoval;
"First, he spent the three years from September 26, 1997 to September 26, 2000 suspended from the practice of law for conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation, and the period from March 27, 1998 to March 26, 1999 doubly suspended from the practice of law (I couldn’t find an announcement in the Texas Bar Journal explaining why, possibly because he was already suspended at the time)."
and....
"Third — and I think this ties all the threads together neatly — Sandoval is appointed to juvenile cases almost exclusively by Harris County Juvenile Court Judge Pat Shelton — the father of Elizabeth Shelton."
Anyone else smell an odor here? Not the first time Harris County has allowed odd ball associations in its court. Not often I praise defense attorneys, but excellent post Mr. Bennett!
"First, he spent the three years from September 26, 1997 to September 26, 2000 suspended from the practice of law for conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation, and the period from March 27, 1998 to March 26, 1999 doubly suspended from the practice of law (I couldn’t find an announcement in the Texas Bar Journal explaining why, possibly because he was already suspended at the time)."
and....
"Third — and I think this ties all the threads together neatly — Sandoval is appointed to juvenile cases almost exclusively by Harris County Juvenile Court Judge Pat Shelton — the father of Elizabeth Shelton."
Anyone else smell an odor here? Not the first time Harris County has allowed odd ball associations in its court. Not often I praise defense attorneys, but excellent post Mr. Bennett!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Elizabeth Shelton still showing poor decision making abilities
Remember Elizabeth Shelton? The daughter of the Harris County judge who was drunk, rear ended a box truck and ended up killing her boyfriend who was her passenger? I can't remember her ever showing remorse that her boyfriend was killed. She, and her father blamed the truck driver for the accident trying to distract the jury from the fact that she was 20 (too young to be legally drinking alcohol) and three times the legal limit. In other words, the girl was drunk!!!! She was given basically a slap on the wrist which is status quo in Harris County. Well, logic would dictate Elizabeth would keep a low profile. Yet, again she amazes us all with her poor sense of judgment! Peep this! She is suing the box truck driver she hit while she was drunk!
"Shelton, her family and the family of the boyfriend who was killed are suing for $20,000 for the destruction of the Lexus SUV she was driving and an undetermined amount for mental anguish, pain and suffering."
So, she is actually arguing that while she was driving drunk, she rear ended a box truck, killed her boyfriend, and she's suffering mental anguish! What is wrong with this girl? Is she still in denial about what she did? Or is she still trying to convince the public that it was the other driver's fault and we should ignore the fact she was underage, and drunk? I didn't want to lump her in with her father's position as a judge. Even public servants can have bad apples. Yet, according to the article, her family, and the family of the dead man are also suing the box truck driver. I guess that entire bunch share the same lapse in reasoning Elizabeth does. Good lord what is wrong with these people?
"Shelton, her family and the family of the boyfriend who was killed are suing for $20,000 for the destruction of the Lexus SUV she was driving and an undetermined amount for mental anguish, pain and suffering."
So, she is actually arguing that while she was driving drunk, she rear ended a box truck, killed her boyfriend, and she's suffering mental anguish! What is wrong with this girl? Is she still in denial about what she did? Or is she still trying to convince the public that it was the other driver's fault and we should ignore the fact she was underage, and drunk? I didn't want to lump her in with her father's position as a judge. Even public servants can have bad apples. Yet, according to the article, her family, and the family of the dead man are also suing the box truck driver. I guess that entire bunch share the same lapse in reasoning Elizabeth does. Good lord what is wrong with these people?
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Why Do People Hate Insurance Companies??
Remember the 2007 Houston office fire that killed three people? It was set by a woman trying to cover up the fact that she didn't do what she was supposed to do. She got 25 years in prison. Well, the property owner of the building is being sued for wrongful death. Now, since the fire was set by the crazy woman and she's responsible for the deaths of those people I would imagine the insurance company, Great American, would argue that point. Instead, they are using the argument that the smoke that killed the people was "pollution" and therefore the insurance company doesn't have to pay. That's like saying a stabbing victim didn't die from the knife wound, but from loss of blood through a hole in the skin. This leaves the judge in a quandary. To any lay person, the insurance company ought to fight on the argument that Misty Ann Weaver is responsible for the deaths, not the property owners. Be interesting from a legal standpoint to see how this turns out.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Harris County District Attorney's Office Changing, and Losing a Blogger
KPRC has this story today of DA elect Pat Lykos already making changes in the DA's office. Of course it just says that 5 employees (4 investigators and 1 prosecutor) have not had their contracts renewed, not a traditional firing after doing something wrong, or bad. It's the process where you are told you're simply not coming back. So, for more information I turned to a Harris County Prosecutor and sure enough, he was on it. Anyone who received an email was going to be let go. That's got to be hell. Checking your email and if you see 'Jim Leitner' in the 'from' box you knew you weren't going to be employed next year. Sadly, AHCL received an email and will not be with the DA's office next year. Of course he will be back as a defense lawyer which is good for him. He also took off the costume and the mask. I had always had a feeling who he was. I was wrong. He wasn't who I thought he was and sad to say, I'd never heard of him. Anyhow, good luck Murray and I'm sure we'll see you around.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
I Figured It Would Happen
I've been keeping tabs on the nutty county prosecutor Juan Guerra who got an indictment against Dick Cheney and Alberto Gonzalez. Guerra also got an indictment against a state senator, and a district judge as well as others who have been involved in past investigations against him. Well, the judge dismissed all the indictments.
"Five of the indictments - against two district judges, two special prosecutors and the district clerk - were dismissed because Guerra was the alleged victim, witness and prosecutor. The indictments accused the five of abusing their power by being involved in a previous investigation of Guerra."
I thought that a prosecutorial no-no. So, the way I understand it, Guerra abused his power to get indictments against others accusing them of abusing their powers to investigate him.
Well, this is no surprise to me. From the start I couldn't see this getting past a judge, somewhere. Guerra has demonstrated his mental instability over and over again.
The Houston Chronicle has also been following this story.
"Five of the indictments - against two district judges, two special prosecutors and the district clerk - were dismissed because Guerra was the alleged victim, witness and prosecutor. The indictments accused the five of abusing their power by being involved in a previous investigation of Guerra."
I thought that a prosecutorial no-no. So, the way I understand it, Guerra abused his power to get indictments against others accusing them of abusing their powers to investigate him.
Well, this is no surprise to me. From the start I couldn't see this getting past a judge, somewhere. Guerra has demonstrated his mental instability over and over again.
The Houston Chronicle has also been following this story.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Mexican Problems, Chronicle Blames US
Another interesting Houston Chronicle article caught my eye this morning. The article talks about Mexican gangsters buying weapons here in Houston that are being used in gun violence in Mexico. The article goes on to cite some examples. The tone of the article is the same, old tired line that guns are the problem, not the people.
"Gangsters have honed in on this city because of its glut of gun shops, its proximity to the border, and its long-established networks for smuggling narcotics into the United States, federal law-enforcement officials said."
So, does this mean this is our fault?
"The need for arms is increasing as Mexican drug cartels are battling one another and the government after President Felipe Calderon made restoring the rule of law his priority upon taking office two years ago."
Ahhh, so the Mexican government is to blame. I know the article didn't mean for this line to be interpreted like this be we all know how corrupt the government and system of justice is down there.
Basically it works like this. Someone goes into a gun store and either makes a legal purchase and in turns sells (or gives) the weapons to someone who shouldn't have them. Or the person uses false information/documents to make the purchase. The gun stores ARE NOT knowingly providing guns to Mexican drug cartels.
"The task may be difficult, but U.S. officials have an obligation to do more to keep guns on this side of the border, Mexican authorities say."
Typical arrogance of the Mexican government. Perhaps if corruption wasn't a way of life down there then Mexico wouldn't have half the problems it has. How about the Mexican government doing more to make its citizens want to stay there and now want to come up here? How about the Mexican government do more to keep illegal drugs out of our country? Neither will happen.
"Mexico's weapons laws are far stricter than those in the United States, making it difficult for civilians to purchase guns and ammunition. U.S. citizens crossing into Mexico have been sent to prison for having accidentally left guns or ammunition in their vehicles."
Yet criminals have no problems getting guns and right under the government's nose. Plus, U.S. citizens have wound up in Mexican jails for being found with a single bullet in their cars. Well, those citizens that couldn't bribe their way out of it. Mexican police have a practice of setting up naive Americans (i.e. having someone sell them drugs) and arresting the citizen until the citizen can cough up a nice little bribe to get out of it.
The point is that the Mexican government is the source for most of these problems. If they didn't tolerate public corruption and actually swung their economy to make people want to stay there then Mexico would be a better place for its own people. Yet, hardly anyone wants to realize that. It's easier, and preferable for Mexico and our own media to blame us for the problems.
"Gangsters have honed in on this city because of its glut of gun shops, its proximity to the border, and its long-established networks for smuggling narcotics into the United States, federal law-enforcement officials said."
So, does this mean this is our fault?
"The need for arms is increasing as Mexican drug cartels are battling one another and the government after President Felipe Calderon made restoring the rule of law his priority upon taking office two years ago."
Ahhh, so the Mexican government is to blame. I know the article didn't mean for this line to be interpreted like this be we all know how corrupt the government and system of justice is down there.
Basically it works like this. Someone goes into a gun store and either makes a legal purchase and in turns sells (or gives) the weapons to someone who shouldn't have them. Or the person uses false information/documents to make the purchase. The gun stores ARE NOT knowingly providing guns to Mexican drug cartels.
"The task may be difficult, but U.S. officials have an obligation to do more to keep guns on this side of the border, Mexican authorities say."
Typical arrogance of the Mexican government. Perhaps if corruption wasn't a way of life down there then Mexico wouldn't have half the problems it has. How about the Mexican government doing more to make its citizens want to stay there and now want to come up here? How about the Mexican government do more to keep illegal drugs out of our country? Neither will happen.
"Mexico's weapons laws are far stricter than those in the United States, making it difficult for civilians to purchase guns and ammunition. U.S. citizens crossing into Mexico have been sent to prison for having accidentally left guns or ammunition in their vehicles."
Yet criminals have no problems getting guns and right under the government's nose. Plus, U.S. citizens have wound up in Mexican jails for being found with a single bullet in their cars. Well, those citizens that couldn't bribe their way out of it. Mexican police have a practice of setting up naive Americans (i.e. having someone sell them drugs) and arresting the citizen until the citizen can cough up a nice little bribe to get out of it.
The point is that the Mexican government is the source for most of these problems. If they didn't tolerate public corruption and actually swung their economy to make people want to stay there then Mexico would be a better place for its own people. Yet, hardly anyone wants to realize that. It's easier, and preferable for Mexico and our own media to blame us for the problems.
Chronicle Just Noticing Again...
I found this article about the 'rise' of dogfighting in the Harris County area. I would beg to differ. This is nothing new. This has always been around, just not taken as seriously. I would suggest that is isn't rising, but it is being taken more seriously as a crime.
"....the crime has steadily become more prevalent among local youths, particularly in low-income areas, said Assistant District Attorney Belinda Smith."
Isn't there also drug dealing, robbery, prostitution, burglary, and other thefts occurring too often in low income areas? See the common denominator here?
"A University of Chicago report this year found dogfighters in that city were introduced to the crime as early as age 9.
How many other negative traits are glorified by rappers (and sometimes the media)?
While popular in 'da hood' cock fighting is popular south of the border. There are also cock fighting networks in Houston due to migration (both legal and illegal). Either way, in my humble opinion, people who engage, or watch these sports are primitive throwbacks. I would say they are no better than animals, but that would be an insult to animals.
"....the crime has steadily become more prevalent among local youths, particularly in low-income areas, said Assistant District Attorney Belinda Smith."
Isn't there also drug dealing, robbery, prostitution, burglary, and other thefts occurring too often in low income areas? See the common denominator here?
"A University of Chicago report this year found dogfighters in that city were introduced to the crime as early as age 9.
The university's research suggested that dogfighting was used "to work out other street or gang conflicts, and as a means to earn money that can range from as little as $20 to as much as several hundred dollars."
Gang conflicts? I don't see the crips and bloods settling their differences over a dog fight. The hood mentality wouldn't allow these thugs to accept defeat based upon the performance of a dog. If this were so, then you'd have shootings over the results of dog fights. These guys are still shooting and killing each other. I wonder how the university conducted its research. When academia tries to research life on the streets watch out. Getting those guys out of their ivory towers and into the real world takes an act of Congress. That's why they have a lot of polls.
How many other negative traits are glorified by rappers (and sometimes the media)?
While popular in 'da hood' cock fighting is popular south of the border. There are also cock fighting networks in Houston due to migration (both legal and illegal). Either way, in my humble opinion, people who engage, or watch these sports are primitive throwbacks. I would say they are no better than animals, but that would be an insult to animals.
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