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Elderly Man shoots two stealing trailer- facing 12 felonies- thieves not charged...

http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-theive...,231586.story?

Quote:

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. - Admitted thieves are going free, while an elderly Wheat Ridge man is facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars, all, he says, for trying to defend his property and his life.

82-year-old Robert Wallace said in February that he looked out his window and saw two men hooking his flatbed trailer up to their pickup. He yelled at them to stop, but they sped away, stealing his trailer. He told police he fired two shots at the pickup.

Minutes later, police say 32-year-old Damacio Torres dropped 28-year-old Alvaro Cardona off at a hospital emergency room with a gunshot wound to the face.

Torres did not stay to talk with police, but they caught up with him later. According to court documents, he admitted he and Cardona stole the trailer.

Wallace did not want to talk on camera, but when we asked him if the two men threatened him he said, "They almost ran me over."

The Jefferson County DA's office said that neither Torres nor Cardona have been charged with anything at this point, even though Torres confessed to the crime. However, the homeowner, Wallace is facing twelve felony counts, including four counts of attempted first degree murder. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Sources say Torres and Cardona are believed to be in the country illegally and both have an arrest record. Cardona's record includes public fighting and numerous traffic offenses like driving without a license or insurance. Torres's record includes agricultural trespassing as well as a 2005 arrest for aggravated motor vehicle theft for which he was given a plea bargain to a lesser crime. Sources say Torres is also under investigation for being part of a major auto theft ring.

Wallace is out on bond and due back in court in September to enter his plea.

Neighbors say the thieves should be the ones facing charges and Wallace should be given an award for protecting the neighborhood.

How the hell do TWO shots translate to FOUR counts of attempted murder?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealth Hunter (Post 1440206)

http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-theive...,231586.story?

How the hell do TWO shots translate to FOUR counts of attempted murder?

That's what I was asking myself too...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealth Hunter (Post 1440206)

http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-theive...,231586.story?

How the hell do TWO shots translate to FOUR counts of attempted murder?

What a shame...

You know what the funny thing is? If *GASP* they weren't attempting a CRIME they wouldn't have been "victims"!!!

And if they weren't in the country illegally in the first place, they wouldn't have been able to attempt the crime.

Gotta love this DAs priorities, though...

Reminds me of the two border patrol agents that were arrested several years ago for shooting that drug dealer illegal immigrant in his butt as he attempted to break into the US. The two border patrol agents were convicted and sent to Federal prison for 10 and 11 years each but were finally released once enough pressure was put on the Justice Dept. to release them. I believe the illegal drug dealer ended up coming back into the US and killing somebody so people were like WTF? Why are those two heroes in prison?

Well these are just the preliminary charges. It is easier for the Prosecutor to "go lower" than to "go higher".

Besides I am not aware of any state that allows a citizen to shoot a fleeing perp just because they stole some stuff.

I think it is way way too early to get spun up over this case. Let's wait until some more facts come out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus (Post 1440284)

Wallace did not want to talk on camera, but when we asked him if the two men threatened him he said, "They almost ran me over."

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIREWALL (Post 1440333)

Wallace did not want to talk on camera, but when we asked him if the two men threatened him he said, "They almost ran me over."

I wonder if that is true? Let's hope there is some evidence at the crime scene that will shed light on what happened.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus (Post 1440284)

Besides I am not aware of any state that allows a citizen to shoot a fleeing perp just because they stole some stuff.

Yeah but try breaking into Ft. Knox or any other federal, state, or city building in the US and steal something and see if they don't shoot you dead for it on your way out!

I believe a person should have a right to defend their life and their property by using lethal force if need be. It's a shame that the real criminals in this case are now pushing to prosecute the man they robbed! How twisted is that?! :doh:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus (Post 1440390)

I wonder if that is true? Let's hope there is some evidence at the crime scene that will shed light on what happened.

How about this?

Quote:

Minutes later, police say 32-year-old Damacio Torres dropped 28-year-old Alvaro Cardona off at a hospital emergency room with a gunshot wound to the face.

It's kind of hard to shoot somebody in the face if they are running away.

I agree.. This sounds very fishy.. And the recent debate on immigration have some people going nuts with fear.

More info is needed.

Why are the police/DA in such a hurry to prosecute the good guy (who might not have been justified in using deadly force, depending on what the investigation reveals), but not the bad guys (who already confessed)?

Priorities. F---ed up world we live in.

Because when someone is sitting around doing nothing it burns taxpayer dollars.

Cases involving illegal immigrants take time to do because of all the international crap involved. Meanwhile the gun nut has a much more clear paperwork path ahead.

If he killed those two and buried them in his backyard I'd be much happier about the story. Of course, I wouldn't even know about it!! :D

I think we don't know the whole story yet. Sounds all a bit fishy. :hmm2:

The legal system needs fixing.

Somewhere along the way, Justice was left behind.