More Sanctuary City Stories: Part II

Update: See the Jamiel Shaw story

Sanctuary Cities: Part II. Guest Entry by CaliGirl9.

Part I appeared yesterday, here. Sprocket.

“Boxcutter Gutting,” San Mateo County, California

San Francisco’s sanctuary city policy has plenty more former juvenile perps who graduated to violent, gang-related adult crimes.

Eric Antonio Uc-Cahun, now aged 19, came into the United States illegally about 4 years ago to join his siblings (immigration status not mentioned in media reports). His criminal history begins on August 13, 2006, at the age of 17, when he was arrested along with two additional suspected gang members in the assault of a man at Dolores Park. The victim was hit over the head and threatened with a gun after the trio demanded to know his gang status. At that time, Uc-Cahun refused to tell police where he lived, and at that tie, had been identified as a Sureño gang member with a street name of “Tweety.” Tweety had enjoyed plenty of prior contacts with SF law enforcement.

He was taken to juvenile hall, charged with felony assault, and placed on probation and eventually freed from juvie. Shortly after his release, on October 18, 2006, he was arrested for being part of a group that attacked a person and ripped a chain from his neck. He was again charged with felony assault, and did another four months in juvenile hall, was released in February 2007 after turning 18, and was put on a year’s probation.

While still on probation for incident #2, Tweety and his homeboyz are accused of jumping a man who was waiting for a ride in Daly City, in neighboring San Mateo County. The victim was accused of being a rival gang member, was beaten with a broomstick, and in the scuffle, was cut by Uc-Cahun with a box cutter with a two-inch blade. The victim was cut in two places and essentially gutted like a pig, according to San Mateo County Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstafe. (The media is not identifying the victim for reasons you will read below.)

Uc-Cahun, who was ultimately identified by his victim who managed to survive his horrific injuries, was arrested in September 2007, remanded into continuous custody, and has been ordered to stand trial.

We’re not done with Señior Uc-Cahun yet. In October 2007, he allegedly wrote a letter to a friend, providing the name and address of the gutting victim, suggesting he “take care of things.” The letter was found by SF police, who were executing a search warrant this past May at a house thought to be used by gang members.

Uc-Cahun is now also charged with witness intimidation along with attempted murder, robbery and other gang-related offenses.

Jamiel Shaw, Los Angeles, California

In March 2008, high school junior Jamiel Shaw’s future was unlimited. A star athlete, Jamiel was actively being courted by both Stanford and Rutger Universities to play football. His mom, Army Sergeant Anita Shaw, was on her second tour of duty in Iraq. The 17-year old, who attended church every Sunday, had contributed greatly to the success of his high school football team, LA High’s Romans, to last year’s Southern League title.

Jamiel was three doors away from home, walking home from the local mall and talking to his girlfriend Chrystale Miles on a cellphone, when a car carrying two Latinos pulled up, jumped out of the car and asked which gang he was with. When Jamiel didn’t answer, he was shot. While Jamiel was dying on the sidewalk, he was shot a second time.

Pedro Espinosa, a member of L.A.’s 18th Street gang since the age of 12, was arrested for Jamiel’s murder. Police have since confirmed that Espinosa is in the U.S. illegally. He is accused of committing the murder a day after he was released after being held on a weapons charges consisting of exhibiting a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon and obstructing an officer. While in jail he claimed to not know where had been born or where his family was. He was in custody for four months.

Espinosa was arraigned in July, and could face the death penalty because of the gang undertones—Jamiel was in “Blood” territory.

What the hell was Espinosa doing on the streets? Are weapons charges something to take lightly? Why wasn’t he deported when he failed to produce proof of citizenship or a green card or passport?

Jamiel had planned to be a sports agent.

Update: August 28th, 2008
Since this story was published, T&T has received confirmation that Shaw was an associate of a rival gang, Rollin' 20's Bloods. His murder is most likely gang related and not racially motivated. Sprocket.

Breanna Slaughter Eck, San José, California

On June 12, 2008, 12-year old Breanna Slaughter Eck was on her way home from the last day of school, riding her bike in the crosswalk when she was ploughed over by 31-year old Adriana Fierro De Marin. Fierro De Marin was driving a Ford Bronco and made a left turn, and not only failed to see the little girl, but also continued to drive several hundred yards before she figured out something was wrong.

Breanna’s only crime was not wearing a bike helmet, which she was saving money to buy. Fierro De Marin’s crimes included being an unlicensed driver—one who has never been licensed in California because she is here illegally.

The emphasis in local press has not been Fierro De Marin’s immigration status—it has been the ongoing issue “why not give driver’s licenses to illegals?”

Fierro De Marin has lived in the U.S. since her early teens. She has anchor baby daughter who attended the same school as Breanna. As of the end of June, the Santa Clara County DA has not yet decided if charges will be filed. Fierro De Marin was initially arrested at the scene for suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter and driving without a license, but was released by police. Breanna’s autopsy is still “pending.” Nevermind that chunks of the little girl’s hair was left on the street.

According to an article in the Merc, poor Ms. Fierro Del Marin is not driving, has been suicidial and is undergoing psychiatric care. Oh, and according to her attorney, she was in the process of becoming a legalized citizen.

Let’s simplify this: An unlicensed diver who has been driving as an unlicensed driver for some time ran over a little girl who had the right-of-way. Said unlicensed driver no doubt was uninsured and unlicensed for a very good reason—she was in the U.S. illegally.

How many of us have family or friends who came to the U.S. on a visa and decided to stay and become permanent residents and ultimately citizens? What is one of the first things they are cautioned about? “Keep your nose clean. Don’t commit any crimes, it will jeopardize your quest for residency and citizenship.” Here is a perfect opportunity for the U.S. government and ICE to redeem themselves—if being here illegally isn’t enough of a crime for you, try driving without a license (probably uninsured driver) and run over a kid in a crosswalk in broad daylight!

Before you begin to stutter, “But, but anyone could have done these crimes! Immigration status is not relevant!” It sure is. If the five perps in the previous five stories had NOT been in the United States in the first place, whether due to the failure of law enforcement stifled by sanctuary city status, spineless district attorneys who are worried about the Latino vote, understaffed ICE who is also somewhat hamstrung about weak federal government support and policy, and even U.S. government at the highest levels who apparently like the nice cheap labor provided by illegals, four innocents would not have been victims. Sara Cole would have finished nursing school instead of still undergoing painful rehab and using a wheelchair for ambulation, Officer Nick Erfle would have played with his children this summer, a resident of San Mateo County would not have two huge gashes and the trauma of remembering his guts falling out of his body, Jamiel Shaw would have been working through double sessions in preparation for his final high school football season, and Breanna Slaughter Eck would have bought her bicycle helmet and be looking forward to starting junior high in a couple of weeks.

And I also know that most illegals are good people and their only crime is being in the United States illegally. My hope is that by the time the perps in these stories do their time, the U.S.-Mexico border is sewn up tighter than one of Sprocket’s hems on her tote bags. That is, for those perps who may see the light of day like Lucio Rodriquez, Adriana Fierro De Marin (if she is charged at all!), and gangbanger Eric Antonio Uc-Cahun (scary thought that he may be out someday). Hopefully Pedro Espinosa gets to meet Richard Allen Davis, Charles Ng, Richard Ramirez, Michael Morales and Scotty Peterson—and the killer of Officer Erfle, Anthony Sanchez, is hopefully already in hell.

SF Gate.com

LA Times.com

The Homicide Report

Gang Member Arrested

Mercury News Stories:
Driver in bike-riding girl's death is illegal immigrant
Breanna not forgotten by many
Mercury News readers opinions
Breanna's memory story 1
Breanna's memory story 2