Mexican judges releases man accused of killing border agent

Washington Times:

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Wednesday said he was "shocked and appalled" that a Mexican judge had ordered the release of a 22-year-old Mexican national arrested in January on charges of running over and killing a U.S. Border Patrol agent attempting to stop suspected drug smugglers as they fled back across the border.

Jesus Navarro Montes was arrested Jan. 22 by Mexican state and federal authorities in the town of El Yaqui, in the northern state of Sonora, after a three-day international manhunt.

His capture followed the death of Border Patrol Agent Luis Aguilar Jr., 32, killed as he tried to lay spike strips on a highway near the Imperial Sand Dunes in California, 20 miles west of Yuma, Ariz.

"Agent Aguilar was killed in a heinous act of violence on January 19 in the Yuma Sector, while attempting to stop two vehicles that illegally entered the country and were absconding into Mexico," Mr. Chertoff said. "We are working with a determined Mexican government, and our Department of Justice, to seek swift justice for the Aguilar murder."

Two federal law-enforcement officials confirmed Wednesday that Navarro Montes was released June 17 by a local judge in Mexicali after he had applied for and was granted bail. The officials, who asked for anonymity because of diplomatic concerns in the case, said Mexican federal authorities were not aware of the release until Wednesday afternoon.

The officials said the Mexican Attorney General's Office has since issued an order that Navarro Montes be located and detained. The name of the Mexican judge was not made public. Navarro Montes remains at large.

One of the law-enforcement officials, both of whom are familiar with the investigation, said U.S. authorities were convinced that Mexico's government was "equally frustrated and concerned" about what had happened and was attempting to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion.

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The judge who order the release showed poor judgment at a minimum. He has some explaining to do that should determine whether he keeps his job. He should also be investigated to see if he is tied to the drug gang that the alleged killer was working with when the border agent was killed. President Calderon has been trying to weed out corruption. It looks like he has another case to investigate.