Posted on 03/27/2010 4:56:24 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Immigrant-rights activist and former Santa Ana schools trustee Nativo Lopez was cleared today to face trial after a mental competency hearing – but proceedings were interrupted when Lopez refused to identify himself to the court, and was sent to jail.
Lopez faces voter fraud charges that he registered to vote in Los Angeles while living in Santa Ana. On Feb. 3, he was ordered to have a competency hearing after he fired his attorney and repeatedly told the court that he was not the defendant.
The competency hearing began yesterday.
“He refused to identify himself,” Deputy District Attorney Juliet Schmidt wrote me in an email. “Apparently there was a ruckus. I wasn’t there. The judge held him in contempt and he was remanded into custody.”
The hearing was continued today and Superior Court Judge Maria Stratton determined Lopez competent to stand trial, ..
Lopez was released from jail on his own recognizance. ..
Late Thursday night, the Mexican American Political Association, sent out an email, saying, “He is being held with the most dangerous prisoners and was forced to get naked and watched and video taped by three female guards. He has decided to begin a hunger strike. We need your help and support during this moment and need help spreading the word. Please notify any media and come out and show your support. This is extremely unjust and we must get him out of prison and make everyone aware of what is going on….
Lopez is national president of Mexican American Political Association and national director of Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana, both of which are advocates for immigrant rights. A controversial figure among both anti-illegal immigration activists and some community activists, Lopez was recalled in 2003 from his post as school board member after serving six years.
(Excerpt) Read more at totalbuzz.freedomblogging.com ...
FRy him.
This is rich with irony.
Frontpage Mag.com - The People Versus Nativo Lopez
I think I'll tip a glass for Bob Dornan tonight.
Good ole’ Larry, always a hoot.
This all seems a bit much for a vote fraud case.
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