Illegal Alien Charged with 4 Murders Looks to Evade Death Penalty with ‘Intellectually Disabled’ Label
An illegal alien charged with murdering four Americans is looking to evade the death penalty by classifying himself as “intellectually disabled.”
Wilbur Ernesto Martinez-Guzman, a 20-year-old illegal alien from El Salvador, was charged with murdering 56-year-old Connie Koontz, 74-year-old Sophia Renken, 81-year-old Gerald David, and his 80-year-old wife, Sharon David, in January 2019 when prosecutors said he was attempting to steal money from his victims to buy more meth.
Now, Martinez-Guzman’s attorneys seek to classify him as “intellectually disabled” so he can evade the death penalty. The attorneys have appealed their case to Nevada’s Supreme Court, claiming that they need more time to gather evidence that their client is intellectually disabled.
The Associated Press reports:
Nevada’s Supreme Court wants to hear directly from lawyers on both sides in a death penalty dispute over how much more time public defenders should have to try to prove a Salvadoran immigrant is intellectually disabled and can’t be executed if convicted of four 2019 Nevada killings. [Emphasis added]
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Deputy Defender John Reese Petty said in their most recent Supreme Court filings the motion hasn’t been filed yet because they’ve been unable to gather necessary evidence in Guzman’s native El Salvador due largely to COVID-19 travel restrictions. [Emphasis added]
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A clinical psychologist concluded in an evaluation that’s been sealed in district court that Martinez-Guzman’s general intellectual and cognitive test scores fell well below levels needed to satisfy key elements of Nevada’s execution exemption, the defense said. [Emphasis added]
Previously, a Nevada judge said Martinez-Guzman’s attorneys had until April 20 to prove he is intellectually disabled. They claim they need more time to travel to El Salvador and gather evidence to prove their case.
Among those allegedly murdered by Martinez-Guzman was Connie Koontz, a mother, whose mother’s 80th birthday was the following day. Koontz, herself, was set to turn 57 five days after her murder.
Also allegedly murdered was 74-year-old Sophia Renken, as well as Gerald and Sharon David, who were both beloved members of the South Reno community. Gerald was president of the Reno Rodeo Association in 2006, and Sharon was a member of the group.
Martinez-Guzman’s trial is set to begin on September 20.
John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jbinder@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter here.
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked Numbers Show Migrant ‘Got-Aways’ Soar as Border Apprehensions Hit 15-Year High
A U.S. Border Patrol source reports the number of migrant “got-away’s” tallied by the agency surpassed 118,000 for this fiscal year. In less than six months, the “got-away” number is nearly double that for all of Fiscal Year 2020. Last year, 69,000 illegal immigrants managed to avoid apprehension by the Border Patrol. Sources report the sharpest increase began in January as President Joe Biden took office.
This particular metric is usually not released by Department of Homeland Security officials. The numbers are achieved by counting illegal immigrants who ultimately escape Border Patrol apprehension after being observed by aircraft platforms and camera systems. In addition, Border Patrol agents using traditional “sign-cutting” techniques identify footprints crossing the border and count those that elude apprehension.
“That’s where it gets tricky,” says a Border Patrol agent with knowledge of the data who is not authorized to speak in the issue. “On a small trail, dozens can walk all over each other’s footprints, so you just do your best. Often, they’ll glue carpet to the soles of their shoes making detection even harder.”
The source reports that for these reasons, the got-away count is usually lower than reality. How much so is debatable as the latter method of counting is not scientific.
The spike in got-aways comes as U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials reported the highest number of migrant apprehension totals since 2006.
Despite the current administration’s refusal to call the immigration situation on the border a crisis, the recent surges are concerning. Many believe the impetus for the surges in illegal entries is being fueled by the promise of amnesty legislation. The administration’s new policies regarding lax interior enforcement and a reduction in removals are also believed to be contributing to the surge in activity along the border.
During a recent press engagement, Texas Governor Greg Abbott elaborated on his views about the border surge, “Because of the volume of people coming across the border, the Border Patrol that makes the arrest, they have to engage quite literally in babysitting. And while they’re doing babysitting, that provides an opportunity for the cartels to be able to bring other people across the border illegally.”.
Recent reports concerning the reduced patrols being conducted by the Border Patrol are likely contributing to the surge in the got-away count. The humanitarian needs of thousands of unaccompanied children crossing the border have impacted the Border Patrol’s ability to cover many remote areas. This situation is likely to worsen as the crisis develops.
Randy Clark is a 32-year veteran of the United States Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as the Division Chief for Law Enforcement Operations, directing operations for nine Border Patrol Stations within the Del Rio, Texas Sector.
64K Migrants Apprehended in Texas-Based Border Sectors in Feb. — Up 27 Percent from Jan.
Border Patrol agents assigned to the five Texas-based sectors apprehended nearly 64,000 migrants in February. This represents an increase of more than 27 percent from the previous month.
Agents assigned to the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Del Rio, Big Bend, and El Paso Sectors apprehended 63,734 migrants in February, according to the Southwest Border Land Encounters Report released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials on Wednesday. This represents an increase of 13,619 migrants over the January report. Note: The El Paso Sector includes apprehensions in New Mexico.
100K Migrants Apprehended Last Month — Highest Feb. Total Since 2006
Border Patrol agents apprehended nearly 100,000 migrants in February who illegally crossed the Mexico-U.S. Border between ports of entry. The apprehensions reveal a jump of 26 percent from January and 170 percent from one year ago.
Border Patrol agents apprehended 98,974 migrants in February who illegally crossed the border in February, according to the Southwest Land Border Encounters Report released on Wednesday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. This represents a massive increase from the 78,323 apprehended in January and an even larger jump from February 2020 when agents apprehended only 36,687. The February 2021 apprehensions are the largest February report since 2006 when agents apprehended 125,046.
These apprehensions occurred during President Joe Biden’s first full month in office and follows his cancellation of border wall systems construction and many of the Trump-era policies that ended catch and release.
“The border is not open,” CBP Senior Officials Performing the Duties of the Commissioner Troy Miller said in his opening remarks in Wednesday’s unveiling of the Southwest Border Encounters report for February. He said their administration is building an “orderly process” and that people should not believe the human smugglers who are encouraging the current spike in illegal border crossings.
“The United States is continuing to strictly enforce our existing immigration laws and border security measures,” Mr. Miller continued. “Those who attempt to cross the border without going through ports of entry should understand that they are putting themselves and their families in danger, especially during the pandemic.”
Most concerning in these apprehend is the number of Unaccompanied Alien Children smuggled across the border and apprehended by Border Patrol agents. In January, agents apprehended 5,871 unaccompanied minors, official reports indicate. In February, that number climbed to 9,297, the CBP report states. This represents a single-month increase of 58 percent and a 166 percent jump from last February’s 3,490.
Miller said more than 3,000 of the unaccompanied minors are under the age of 12. The remaining minors are between 13 and 17 years of age.
The apprehension of 18,945 Family Unit Aliens in February also jumped from the previous month’s total of 7,490 and the 7,117 apprehended in February 2020.
The increased apprehensions in February represent the tenth straight month of increases in apprehensions. The previous low point came in April 2020 when apprehensions fell to 17,104.
More information regarding articles about the CBP’s previous Southwest Border reports can be found by clicking here.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior news contributor for the Breitbart Texas-Border team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Price is a regular panelist on Fox 26 Houston’s What’s Your Point? Sunday-morning talk show. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Face
The Texas sectors account for 65 percent of all migrant border apprehensions, the report indicates.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector is clearly the epicenter of the current border crisis with nearly 28,000 migrants (nearly 29 percent) being apprehended out of the total apprehensions of 96,974. The apprehensions in the RGV Sector jumped 63,7 percent from January’s 17,056.
The El Paso Sector is next with 13,181 apprehensions — up 24 percent from January. The Big Bend Sector experienced an increase of 16 percent over the previous month. The Del Rio and Laredo Sectors both reported a slight decrease in apprehensions — 0.7 and 1.7 percent respectively.
By demographic category, the five Texas-based sectors apprehended 41,467 single adults, 7,056 unaccompanied alien children, and 15,211 family unit aliens.
In the Rio Grande Valley Sector alone, Border Patrol agents apprehended 10,489 unaccompanied minors representing more than 55 percent of the 18,945 minors apprehended in all nine southwest border sectors.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Troy Miller, senior official performing the duties of the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported more than 3,000 of the unaccompanied minors apprehended nationally are under the age of 12. The remaining minors are between 13 and 17 years of age.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior news contributor for the Breitbart Texas-Border team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Price is a regular panelist on Fox 26 Houston’s What’s Your Point? Sunday-morning talk show. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Face
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