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: JURIST - The Paper Chase

Bush commutes sentences of former border patrol agents in last act of clemency

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

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[JURIST] In one of his final acts as President of the United States, George W. Bush on Monday commuted the sentences of two former border patrol agents convicted of the shooting of a Mexican drug smuggler. The two former agents, Jose Alonso Compean and Ignacio Ramos, are expected to be released from prison in March. In this final act of clemency, Bush did not pardon the men but reduced their sentences, finding that even though they had received fair trials, their 10-year sentences were excessive. During Bush's two terms, he has granted 189 pardons and 11 commutations of sentences. In 2006, Compean and Ramos were convicted on charges of assault, discharge of a weapon in the commission of a crime of violence, tampering with an official proceeding, and deprivation of civil rights. In 2008, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld their convictions. The controversial decision received national attention after members of Congress called upon Bush to pardon the men. Many local residents fear that the prosecution of border patrol agents limits their ability to do their job properly.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on January 20, 2009 (boomark / email).