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Of course pro illegal will say he is innoncent -

By BRIAN ROGERS and MIKE GLENN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal said today that he will lead the prosecution of the man accused of killing Houston police Officer Rodney Johnson.

Referring to it as “coming out of retirement,” Rosenthal said he could not recall the last time he took part in prosecuting a case, but guessed that it has been two or three years.

A judge, meanwhile, ordered this morning that Juan Leonardo Quintero remain in the County Jail without bail.

Quintero, 32, is charged with capital murder in connection with the shooting of Johnson near Hobby Airport on Thursday afternoon.

Johnson had stopped Quintero, a Mexican national, for a traffic violation and arrested him because he had no identification. Police said Johnson failed to detect that Quintero had a pistol hidden in his clothing.

Quintero, although handcuffed, managed to get his hands in front of him, pull the gun and kill Johnson while locked in the backseat cage of the officer’s patrol car, investigators said.

Rosenthal said this is a “bizarre” case because Quintero is accused of killing Johnson even though Quintero was locked in the back of the car and could not escape.

In this morning’s hearing, state District Judge Joan Campbell granted a defense request for funds for such expenses as hiring an investigator.

Rosenthal said he believes Quintero could come to trial sometime next spring. The next step in the case will be another court hearing in 15 days, he said, and the case could go to a county grand jury shortly after that.

The arrest of Quintero has renewed debate over the enforcement of immigration laws and HPD’s policy of not questioning suspects about their residency.

Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt appeared on ABC television’s “Good Morning America,” this morning where he accused the federal government of not properly securing the nation’s borders.

With 250,000 to 400,000 illegal immigrants believed to be living in the Houston area, Hurtt said the resources are not available for HPD officers to assume a greater role in immigration enforcement.

“I would need another 2,500 officers,” Hurtt said. Hurtt was interviewed for the ABC program from Charlotte, N.C., where he is attending a meeting of the Major Cities Chiefs Assocation that he heads.

Quintero was deported as an illegal felon in 1999, following a charge of indecency with a child, HPD officials said.

Court records show Quintero was given deferred adjudication in that case.

His previous criminal record included an arrest for driving while intoxicated, for driving with a suspended licensed and for failing to stop and give information after an automobile accident, HPD officials said.