ICE officer accused of hitting immigrant with SUV in Houston turns himself in
A judge sets bond at $30,000 for Mario Alberto Morales, whose lawyers call the case political, while the Harris County district attorney says it is not.
Mario Alberto Morales, 33, an officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, turned himself in on Monday in Houston, his attorney said. A Harris County him on Friday, Oct. 30, on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The charge is a second-degree , and a conviction could bring as much as 20 years in prison.
Morales is accused of hitting Miguel Parra Hernandez, a 48-year-old Mexican construction worker, with an unmarked SUV on Oct. 10, during a chase through a parking lot. Sean Teare says Parra Hernandez broke his leg. Judge Matthew Peneguy set bond at $30,000.
Prosecutors had asked for $75,000. Surveillance video shows the SUV crossing a median and hitting the man as he ran away. says he ran in front of the vehicle, and prosecutors say the video contradicts that.
Morales' lawyers call the prosecution political. Teare says it is not. ICE called the indictment a political stunt.
U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz said he is not bringing federal charges. The defense says it has asked to move the case to federal court, and that request is pending. Morales' next hearing is Dec. 2, according to his attorney.
- $30,000 bond set by Judge Matthew Peneguy — The Boston Globe
- $75,000 bond prosecutors had asked for — The Boston Globe
- Up to 20 years possible prison term if convicted of the second-degree felony — The Center Square
Three sides of the story
Liberal1 outlet
An ICE officer surrenders on assault charge
The Boston Globe runs a wire text that The Seattle Times also carries. It begins with Mario Alberto Morales, an ICE officer, surrendering on Monday, his attorney said. Morales appeared in court for the first time on a felony count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, over the Oct. 10 incident in which an unmarked SUV hit construction worker Miguel Parra Hernandez, 48.
A grand jury indicted him on Friday. Judge Matthew Peneguy set bond at $30,000, below the $75,000 prosecutors sought, according to the Harris County District Attorney's Office. The text says ICE asserts the man ran in front of the vehicle, while prosecutors say video contradicts that.
Attorney David Lindenmuth calls Morales "truly a good man" and says no crime occurred. District Attorney Sean Teare says Parra Hernandez suffered a broken leg and is recovering in a rehabilitation facility while in federal custody. The text also covers Morales' background: just over a year with ICE, a failed run for , earlier Army service and a 2013 misdemeanor dismissed after a $270 fine.
Center2 outlets
An ICE officer's surrender and a disputed account
The Seattle Times runs the same text as The Boston Globe. It opens with an ICE officer accused of intentionally ramming a Mexican construction worker in Houston, who surrendered on Monday, his attorney said. Border Report reports that an ICE officer accused of deliberately striking a Mexican construction worker with a vehicle in Houston surrendered Monday, according to his lawyer.
The Seattle Times text names the officer as Mario Alberto Morales, 33, and the man he is accused of striking as Miguel Parra Hernandez, 48. It places the Oct. 10 incident in a parking lot and says surveillance video shows the vehicle crossing a median and hitting him. ICE says the man ran in front of the car, and prosecutors say the video contradicts that.
Bond was set at $30,000 after prosecutors asked for $75,000. Attorney David Lindenmuth says Morales did not commit a crime. The text adds that few federal officers have faced criminal charges during Trump's immigration crackdown.
Conservative4 outlets
Defense calls it a politically motivated prosecution
The Center Square gives the defense wide room. Attorney Michael Wynne says Morales was indicted "on the last day of " and is not the monster the district attorney describes. Lindenmuth calls it "political prosecution" and an accident caused by a fleeing man.
ICE calls the indictment "nothing more than a political stunt by Houston sanctuary politicians." U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz says he stands with ICE and is not bringing federal charges. Teare answers that the case is not political.
The outlet also notes Parra Hernandez's attorney calling the surrender "an important step toward accountability." Just the News and The Epoch Times use the term "illegal immigrant." Just the News quotes Teare calling the evidence "as clear as any I've ever prosecuted" and gives the Dec. 2 hearing date.
The Epoch Times relays Teare's account of the vehicle running over both legs. The Washington Times carries the report that the officer turned himself in.
- The Center Square: Indicted ICE officer turns himself in, appears before judge in Houston case
- Just the News: ICE agent charged with allegedly striking illegal immigrant with his vehicle released on bond
- The Epoch Times: ICE Agent Turns Himself In After Allegedly Striking Illegal Immigrant With Vehicle
- The Washington Times: ICE officer accused of hitting immigrant in Houston with an SUV turns himself in
Which side made the stronger case?
All sources: 7 articles from 7 outlets
Liberal (1)
Center (2)
- Border Report: ICE officer accused of hitting immigrant with SUV turns himself in
- The Seattle Times: ICE officer accused of hitting immigrant in Houston with an SUV turns himself in
Conservative (4)
- Just the News: ICE agent charged with allegedly striking illegal immigrant with his vehicle released on bond
- The Center Square: Indicted ICE officer turns himself in, appears before judge in Houston case
- The Epoch Times: ICE Agent Turns Himself In After Allegedly Striking Illegal Immigrant With Vehicle
- The Washington Times: ICE officer accused of hitting immigrant in Houston with an SUV turns himself in
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