Juan update - good and bad
hi all,
this is from the blog:
http://freejuanruiz.blogspot.com/
xxx
wendy
---
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Hearing results: Good, but not perfect!
Good news from the court hearing today in San Diego. The government has dropped all felony charges
against Juan. Instead, they are charging him with a class C misdemeanor of impeding a federal officer.
Juan pleaded "not guilty" to this charge. The next hearing date is January 22, 2008 for motions related to
this case. The trial, if it should be needed, is scheduled for Feb. 4, 2008. Most likely, the judge will allow
Juan to return to Wisconsin in the interim.
It is likely that the support shown to Juan by folks who signed the petition and wrote letters, etc,
was instrumental in helping the prosecution to see Juan as the good kid that he is. We really
appreciate everyone's support and thank them.
While this is certainly better than the initial charges, it may still be a problem for Juan's immigration
status and ability to obtain US citizenship. We will be consulting with immigration attorneys,
as has his attorney in San Diego, and proceeding cautiously.
Next steps:
1) help Juan get home to Wisconsin,
2) legal help with immigration,
3) prepare defense for this case
4) fundraising for transportation and legal costs. Donations are still needed!
---
there is a link on the blog to donate online,
http://freejuanruiz.blogspot.com/
or
the direct link is
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=nCSLa0uX14qyL_kQlXZoaZdudFjRJhQMES_agWim2JkEoNkw0a7V3PT2PqC&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f3893a48c4ade7e5f97951af3b1813a459ff5819dec2f8f62
this is from the blog:
http://freejuanruiz.blogspot.com/
xxx
wendy
---
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Hearing results: Good, but not perfect!
Good news from the court hearing today in San Diego. The government has dropped all felony charges
against Juan. Instead, they are charging him with a class C misdemeanor of impeding a federal officer.
Juan pleaded "not guilty" to this charge. The next hearing date is January 22, 2008 for motions related to
this case. The trial, if it should be needed, is scheduled for Feb. 4, 2008. Most likely, the judge will allow
Juan to return to Wisconsin in the interim.
It is likely that the support shown to Juan by folks who signed the petition and wrote letters, etc,
was instrumental in helping the prosecution to see Juan as the good kid that he is. We really
appreciate everyone's support and thank them.
While this is certainly better than the initial charges, it may still be a problem for Juan's immigration
status and ability to obtain US citizenship. We will be consulting with immigration attorneys,
as has his attorney in San Diego, and proceeding cautiously.
Next steps:
1) help Juan get home to Wisconsin,
2) legal help with immigration,
3) prepare defense for this case
4) fundraising for transportation and legal costs. Donations are still needed!
---
there is a link on the blog to donate online,
http://freejuanruiz.blogspot.com/
or
the direct link is
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=nCSLa0uX14qyL_kQlXZoaZdudFjRJhQMES_agWim2JkEoNkw0a7V3PT2PqC&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f3893a48c4ade7e5f97951af3b1813a459ff5819dec2f8f62