Recently, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales gave a public speech where he described gang members as “individuals who have run into a spell of bad luck”. On March 19, 2007, the US/Mexico governments helped impose on Edwards County Sheriff’s Deputy Hernandez his own “spell of bad luck” when he was sentenced to 12 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. One would think that the citizens of Rocksprings, Texas and the rest of the folks from Edwards County would have been elated over the decision since he faced a much stiffer sentence, but there weren’t too many dry eyes when the crowd left the courtroom. Why? The people listened to a prosecutor repeatedly try and describe to the judge a Gilmer they knew didn’t exist. Their heartbreak will be long felt and not soon forgotten.
A “Donate” page has been added if you wish to help Gilmer’s family in paying the fine and offsetting the expenses his wife is left with while he is incarcerated.
You can help by contacting your representatives in Congress and ask that they push a pardon for Gilmer in order to clear his record. There is also a link below to sign a petition which urges the President to issue a pardon. |
Register and sign FreeGilmer petition here
News Update:
AMERICA'S MOST WANTED responds:
Gilmer Hernandez: Injustice At The Border Part 2
Mar 16, 2007 - The town of Rocksprings, Texas is a small town – population 1,200 – with a tough battle on its hands. It's an old wool-shipping center where God, church and the border are at the center of life. The Edwards County Sheriff's Office keeps watch over the city...
John Walsh: Take Action To Defend Border Patrol Agents
Feb 22, 2007 - Every day in this country, thousands of men and women wake up, kiss their families good-bye as they head to work – and don't know if their loved ones will ever see them again. They're the men and woman on the front lines of law enforcement, people who know that at any moment they may be asked...
Tune in to 95.5WTVY-FM here
Amie Pollard on Country Cares About Our Country
Congressman Ted Poe defends Gilmer:
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROTECTING BORDER VIOLATORS
Mar 6, 2007 - Mr. Speaker, being a lawman in the vastness of west Texas has always been a rough task. Now it is more difficult because the Federal Government has taken the side of the lawbreaker over the lawman. Deputy Gilmer Hernandez of Edwards County, Texas, was recently on patrol in the darkness of...
FREE GILMER
Feb 9, 2007 - In west Texas, where the rattlesnake rules the hard, rugged land is Edwards County. It is a sparsely populated place because not much grows on that dusty soil. Local landmarks include Devil's Sinkhole, a massive bat cave and a place called Bullhead. This land once was home to the fierce Lip...
DEPUTY GILMER HERNANDEZ ON PATROL
Feb 8, 2007 - Madam Speaker, in west Texas, where the rattlesnake rules the hard, rugged land is Edwards County. It is a sparsely populated place because not much grows on that dusty soil. Local landmarks include Devil's Sinkhole, a massive bat cave and a place called Bullhead. This la...
DEPUTY GILMER HERNANDEZ
Jan 10, 2007 - Mr. Speaker, in the small border town of Rocksprings, Texas, where drug smugglers and human smugglers sneak across the Rio Grande into America, lone Deputy Sheriff Gilmer Hernandez was on patrol. In the stillness of the vast night, a speeding Suburban runs a red light. Deputy Hern...
Interviews from Joe Hyde with SW Texas LIVE:
EXCLUSIVE: Convicted Rocksprings Sheriff Deputy Gilmer Hernandez speaks from behind bars
Mar 11, 2007 - Edwards County Deputy Sheriff Gilmer Hernandez was led into a holding room near the Geo Group-managed prison in Del Rio, Texas for our interview Friday afternoon, March 9. He was shackled in red, metal handcuffs and dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit and booties. Hernandez is await...
Rocksprings, Texas sheriff says his deputy victimized by overzealous federal prosecutor
Mar 7, 2007 - “I’ll tell you one thing is going to happen from all of this: someone is going to get killed,” Edwards County Sheriff Don G. Letsinger said about the current climate of prosecuting law enforcement officers, including one of his own.
WorldNetDaily articles on Gilmer:
Sheriff sees pattern in border agents' cases
Feds seeking 7 years for another Texas cop
Congressman: Probe Mexico's role in prosecutions
Mexico demanded U.S. prosecute sheriff, agents
Sheriff: Deputy prosecuted by Mexico's demand
Texas town is running 'Free Gilmer' campaign
Read Washington Times article here
Read NewsWithViews article here
Read Fox News article here
Read San Antonio Express-News article here
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| Gilmer with his daughter in August 2006. |
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In it's 115 year history, the rural town of Rocksprings, Texas (population 1290) has only encountered two devastating events that have tested the character and fortitude of the people in this community. The first event, April 12, 1927, was an F5 tornado over 1 mile wide, that virtually wiped the city "off the map" by destroying 235 of the town's 247 buildings.
The second catastrophe occurred December 1,2006 when Edwards County Sheriff's Deputy Gilmer Hernandez was de-humanized and humiliated in a conviction stemming from an incident involving an illegal immigrant.
It is noteworthy, that in both events, the people of Rocksprings and Edwards County joined together to overcome the obstacles thrown before them.
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Picture above is one of the many rallies of support for Deputy Gilmer Hernandez
that have been held since his conviction in December 2006. |
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