The prosecution’s fear was that the widely-respected Jesuit priest would dismantle the state’s gang conspiracy case based on his long experience with street gangs in Los Angeles and El Salvador. They received immediate relief from Judge Real who dismissed Boyle’s right to testify on the confusing grounds that Boyle thinks Sanchez is innocent.

Fr. Boyle planned to testify whether four wiretapped phone calls showed that Sanchez was a danger to the community or a risk of flight, as the government maintains. The priest’s testimony challenged the expert testimony of former LAPD CRASH officer Frank Flores, whose account of the wiretaps left out whole sections revealing that Sanchez was not a gang shot caller and not involved in a murder plot. Boyle’s testimony, over 25 pages in submitted form, challenged the entire prosecution claim that Sanchez leads a double life. Even though Boyle’s testimony, over 25 pages as submitted, examined the four wiretapped phone calls consistent with the judge’s request, the judge kept the priest off the stand, asserting that the testimony was somehow irrelevent. “Father Boyle thinks the defendant is innocent, but that’s not we’re here for”, the judge said.

It was the most powerful blow against Sanchez, a gang intervention leader, during a hearing in which the judge repeatedly interrupted and lectured Sanchez’ court-appointed lawyer, Pasadena attorney Kerry Bensinger. “If it’s going to go on like this, it’s not going anywhere”, said the judge at one point.

The most revealing revelation of the day came during Bensinger’s cross examination of Flores. In his lengthy interpretation of the wiretaps, Flores omitted any reference to an exchange between Walter Lacinos [“Cameron”] and Sanchez [“Rebelde”] in which Lacinos says two times with irritation that Sanchez should not be on the phone call at all because he is no longer an active gang member, which would undermine the government’s contention that Sanchez was a shot caller. Sanchez replies on the wiretaps that he has joined the phone call to respond to threats on his life and rumors that he was an FBI informant.

Asked how he failed to report such an important exchange to the court, Flores could only reply that he thought Lacinos’ remarks were “tongue in cheek” and a “slap back.”

The judge also refused the testimony of Rosemary Ashmalla, an expert on the provision of tattoo removal services. The prosecution has claimed that Sanchez, while claiming to promote tattoo removals, secretly has a gang tattoo on his chest. Ashalla was to testify that gang tattoo removals typically target the hands, neck and face, in order to make re-entry to the job market possible. The judge ruled her testimony “irrelevent” because she didn’t personally oversee Sanchez’ tattoo removals. But her testimony was to address why a tattoo would not be removed from the chest, not why Sanchez had tattoos removed from visible parts of his body.

In the wrap up arguments for bail, Bensinger stressed the enormous outpouring of community support, including $2.5 million proffered in property sureties and funds. The prosecution, apparently confident of the judge’s protection, argued that Sanchez’ broad support was proof that he would be “uniquely able to flee” if given bail.

The judge claimed that none of the many letters supporting Sanchez addressed the question of his showing up for court appearances if given bail. There were gasps in the courtroom from many individuals who thought their letters addressed that issue exactly. For example, the former Los Angeles FBI director, Thomas Parker, actually assured the judge that he would personally accompany Sanchez to court if he was freed on bail.

The feeling among friends and family who witnessed the hearing was that, despite hopes in previous weeks, there would be zero possibility of a fair trial for Sanchez in Real’s courtroom. There will be appeals to the federal circuit court, but those will take months.

The prosecution’s fear was that the widely-respected Jesuit priest would dismantle the state’s gang conspiracy case based on his long experience with street gangs in Los Angeles and El Salvador. They received immediate relief from Judge Real who dismissed Boyle’s right to testify on the confusing grounds that Boyle thinks Sanchez is innocent.

Fr. Boyle planned to testify whether four wiretapped phone calls showed that Sanchez was a danger to the community or a risk of flight, as the government maintains. The priest’s testimony challenged the expert testimony of former LAPD CRASH officer Frank Flores, whose account of the wiretaps left out whole sections revealing that Sanchez was not a gang shot caller and not involved in a murder plot. Boyle’s testimony, over 25 pages in submitted form, challenged the entire prosecution claim that Sanchez leads a double life. Even though Boyle’s testimony, over 25 pages as submitted, examined the four wiretapped phone calls consistent with the judge’s request, the judge kept the priest off the stand, asserting that the testimony was somehow irrelevant. “Father Boyle thinks the defendant is innocent, but that’s not we’re here for”, the judge said. j

It was the most powerful blow against Sanchez, a gang intervention leader, during a hearing in which the judge repeatedly interrupted and lectured Sanchez’ court-appointed lawyer, Pasadena attorney Kerry Bensinger. “If it’s going to go on like this, it’s not going anywhere”, said the judge at one point.

The most revealing revelation of the day came during Bensinger’s cross examination of Flores. In his lengthy interpretation of the wiretaps, Flores omitted any reference to an exchange between Walter Lacinos [“Cameron”] and Sanchez [“Rebelde”] in which Lacinos says two times with irritation that Sanchez should not be on the phone call at all because he is no longer an active gang member, which would undermine the government’s contention that Sanchez was a shot caller. Sanchez replies on the wiretaps that he has joined the phone call to respond to threats on his life and rumors that he was an FBI informant.

Asked how he failed to report such an important exchange to the court, Flores could only reply that he thought Lacinos’ remarks were “tongue in cheek” and a “slap back.”

The judge also refused the testimony of Rosemary Ashmalla, an expert on the provision of tattoo removal services. The prosecution has claimed that Sanchez, while claiming to promote tattoo removals, secretly has a gang tattoo on his chest. Ashalla was to testify that gang tattoo removals typically target the hands, neck and face, in order to make re-entry to the job market possible. The judge ruled her testimony “irrelevent” because she didn’t personally oversee Sanchez’ tattoo removals. But her testimony was to address why a tattoo would not be removed from the chest, not why Sanchez had tattoos removed from visible parts of his body.

In the wrap up arguments for bail, Bensinger stressed the enormous outpouring of community support, including $2.5 million proffered in property sureties and funds. The prosecution, apparently confident of the judge’s protection, argued that Sanchez’ broad support was proof that he would be “uniquely able to flee” if given bail.

The judge claimed that none of the many letters supporting Sanchez addressed the question of his showing up for court appearances if given bail. There were gasps in the courtroom from many individuals who thought their letters addressed that issue exactly. For example, the former Los Angeles FBI director, Thomas Parker, actually assured the judge that he would personally accompany Sanchez to court if he was freed on bail.

The feeling among friends and family who witnessed the hearing was that, despite hopes in previous weeks, there would be zero possibility of a fair trial for Sanchez in Real’s courtroom. There will be appeals to the federal circuit court, but those will take months.

Tom Hayden mentioned a wiretap that Fr. Greg Boyle heard.

Can we get a copy of the wiretap, or is it secret to the public until the trial?

I'm happy the guy was doing anti-gang work, but, MS13 is still going strong, and is way bigger than Homies Unidos. So's 18th St and these other gangs around Macarthur Park. So, whatever's been done, it isn't working. That police station in the park isn't working either. The Ed Reyes gentrification plan is failing, too, at least for now. Makes you wonder, you know?

Answering my own question here...

Celeste Fremon at Witness LA has info about the wiretaps:
http://witnessla.com/gangs/2009/admin/alex-sanchez-part-3-the-bail-hearing/

The prosecutor won't give them to the defense or the public. So, I guess we are supposed to believe whatever the prosecutor says.... kinda shady and not in the spirit of the law. Whatever happened to habeas corpus?

Is this another Guantanamo Bay fiasco in the making?

PS - I don't like gangsters or even ex-gangsters, but everyone deserves a fair and speedy trial, and detention without conviction isn't right.

The Wire Tap calls and transcripts are in the hands of the defense. If you were truly following the case you would clearly know that. Spinning the facts to make you argument is as dishonest and crooked your comments accusing the Government. Whatever your beliefs, know and understand the facts, Be educated on the process and make a decision on the facts not lies.

I haven't been following the case.

Can we see the transcripts somewhere, or are they going to be kept under wraps until the trial?