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Archive 2003

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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Top Stories

Friday, April 4, 2003

Monahans fire bomber pleads guilty to arson charges

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, Fri., April 4, 2003 -- Clad in orange pants and matching shirt with Winkler County Jail written on the back Travis James Harris responded "guilty" to the two counts he was being charged with at the Lucius Bunton Courthouse in Pecos yesterday.

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that the 22-year-old Monahans man pled guilty to felony charges relating to the fire that damaged the Monahans Municipal Building on June 3, 2002.

Appearing before United States Magistrate Judge Durwood Edwards, Harris pled guilty to one count of "damaging a building by fire and explosive materials" and one count of "use of a destructive device during an arson."

Harris faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the first count and a term of not less than 10 years for the "use of a destructive device" count, which must be imposed consecutively to the first sentence. Sentencing has not been scheduled. In addition, he was assessed a $250,000 fine.

Harris admitted that in the early morning hours of June 3, 2002, he assembled a Molotov cocktail using a glass bottle, gasoline, and cloth at a location near the municipal building in Monahans, lit the cloth, then threw the ignited bottle into a window of the Police Department. During their subsequent investigation, law enforcement officers and agents recovered Harris' fingerprint on a container in a lot near the crime scene. At the time, the container still contained a small amount of gasoline. Also, forensic testing conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives laboratory in Maryland revealed that hairs taken from Harris' right hand and forearm shortly after the fire appeared burnt. Additionally, while being booked into jail in Odessa, on June 4, Harris admitted to "blowing up" the Monahans Police Department. He also made the same statements to an inmate while incarcerated.

A substantial portion of the municipal building was damaged before the Monahans Fire Department put out the fire.

U.S. Attorney Jeff Parras is prosecuting the case for the government, while Pecos Attorney Scott Johnson was attorney for Harris.

Harris responded respectfully to all the judge's questions and had to be asked to speak up a little louder a few times.

"We'll need for you to speak up Mr. Harris, they're recording this," said Judge Edwards.

Judge Edwards also asked if there was any restitution.

"It hasn't been set yet," said U.S. Attorney Jeff Parras. "But we know it will be in excess of $600,000," he said.

Date of sentencing has not been set, but Edwards told Harris that it would be in early to mid-June. "You and your attorney will be notified in writing about the exact date," he said.

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office, the Texas Rangers, and the Department of Public Safety together with the Monahans Police Department, the Ward County Sheriff's Office, the Monahans Fire Department and the Pecos Police Department in bringing Harris to justice.

Daylight-saving time returns

WASHINGTON (AP) - Set the clocks ahead - spring forward - to gain an hour of light in the evening for warm summer recreation. The official change comes at 2 a.m. Sunday, local time.

Daylight-saving time lasts until October 26, 2003.

Some parts of the country don't observe daylight-saving time. Those include Arizona, Hawaii, the part of Indiana located in the Eastern time zone, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa.

Breakfast plates Sunday morning

PECOS, Fri., April 4, 2003 -- Breakfast plates and menudo will be sold from 8:30 a.m. until noon, Sunday, April 6, at Santa Rosa Catholic Church Hall, corner of 6th and Peach.

The Guadalupanas are in charge of the event and everyone is welcome to dine in or take out.

Servicemen personnel list

Listed below are the names of service men and women from our community who are serving in our nation's Armed Forces. We ask that you keep our brave military personnel in your thoughts and prayers.

Everyone is asked to wear yellow ribbons and fly their American flags to show their support for our troops. Pray for their speedy and safe return home.

Individuals from Pecos and neighboring communities include:

Adam Seijas, Marines, serving in Kuwait.

Herman Siejas, U.S. Navy, stationed in Chicago, on "standby."

Specialist Juan Romo, Sr., U.S. Army, serving in Jordan.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mario G. Villescas, U.S. Marines, serving in Kuwait.

Alonzo Nichols Madero, U.S. Army, serving in Germany.

LCPL Jimmy Nichols Porras, U.S. Marines, serving in Iraq.

Sgt. James Silvas, U.S. Marines, stationed in California, on "standby."

Pablo Rodriguez, U.S. Army, stationed in Ft. Ervin, California.

Daniel Sanchez, U.S. Army, stationed in Ft. Bliss.

Steve Machuca, stationed in Ft. Hood.

Airman Carmen Matta, stationed in San Antonio.

Apolinar Vasquez, U.S. Navy, serving in Kuwait.

Airman Marco Barreno, U.S. Air Force, stationed in England.

Lance Corporal Juan Longoria, U.S. Marines, serving in Kuwait.

Margaret Gonzalez, U.S. Army, stationed in Killeen.

Phillip Vance, U.S. Army, serving in Kuwait.

Bruce Lee Franco, U.S. Army, stationed in Ft. Lewis, Wash., on "standby."

Augustin Natividad, Jr., U.S. Air Force, stationed in San Antonio.

Jeremy Christopher Vasquez, U.S. Marines, stationed in Spain.

Liza Marie Vasquez, U.S. Air Force, stationed in Arizona.

Dominique Natividad, U.S. Air Force, stationed in Spain.

Israel Natividad Vasquez, U.S. Marines, stationed in Tennessee.

Orlando Mendoza, U.S. Army, serving in Kuwait.

Lt. J.G. Robert Trujillo, U.S. Navy, serving in the Persian Gulf.

Sgt. Peter Harrison, serving in Kuwait.

Robert Payne, stationed at Fort Knox.

LCP1 Robert Lee Garcia stationed in Camp Pendleton.

Orlando Mendoza, U.S. Army, serving in Kuwait.

Pvt. E3 Meagan Carr, U.S. Army, stationed in Fort Jackson, Carolina.

Staff Sgt. Misty Cox Link, Air Force Base in Abilene.

Staff Sgt. Scott Link, Air Force Base in Abilene.

Marcello Bustillos, grew up in Pecos, serving in Iraq.

Alvaro Abila, U.S. Army, stationed in South Carolina.

Rudy Nunez, in the reserves, on "standby."

Michael Howard, U.S. Navy, U.S.S. Pioneer, stationed in Ingleside, Tx.

Christopher R. Valdez, U.S. Army, stationed in Ft. Hood.

Heather C. Valdez, U.S. Army, stationed in Ft. Hood.

Daniel Chavez, Air Force, serving in Quatar, Saudi Arabia.

Master Sgt. James David Howard, U.S. Army, stationed in Germany.

Staff Sgt. Ricky M. Florez, U.S. Air Force, stationed at Luke Air Base in Glendale, Ariz.

Jason Aguilar, U.S. Marines, stationed in El Paso, on ""standby."

Staff Sgt. Michael Angelo Diaz, U.S. Marines, serving in Kuwait.

Jaime Natividad, serving in Kuwait.

Irene Hernandez, U.S. Army, stationed in New York.

S/SGT Sheyney Burkhalter Granado, U.S. Air Force, Tyndall, AFB, Fl.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Harvey Granado, U.S. Navy, stationed in Norfolk, Va.

Melissa Navarrette Fuentez, U.S. Navy, stationed in San Antonio, on "standby."

Jesus Navarrette Casillas III, U.S. Army, stationed in Korea.

Chris Ornelas, U.S. Army, stationed in Korea.

Air Force Staff Sergeant Robert Chabarria, Jr., stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Sgt. Edward Lujan, serving in Kuwait.

Sgt. Matthew Gonzales, serving in Kuwait.

Martin Guzman, stationed in Fort Hood, on "standby."

Samuel M. Rodriguez, U.S. Army in Germany, on "standby."

Spec. Adrian Herrera, U.S. Army, stationed in Fort Hood, on "standby."

Spec. Filimon Herrera, U.S. Army, stationed in El Paso, Fort Bliss.

Sgt. Ruben Contreras, Jr., U.S. Army, serving in Kuwait.

Ricardo Garcia, U.S. Marines, serving in Kuwait.

Sgt. Wade Dodson, 82nd Airborne of Toyah, (Pecos graduate), serving in Kuwait.

Justin Ornelas, U.S. Navy, stationed in San Diego, Calif.

Benjamin Maldonado, Jr., U.S. Army, stationed in Georgia, on "standby."

LCPL Steven Marruffo, serving in Kuwait.

SPC Jesus "Chuy" Marruffo, stationed in Fort Hood, on "standby."

First Lieutenant Ismael Natividad, stationed in Fort Hood, on "standby."

PFC Jaime Natividad, stationed in Fort Hood, on "standby."

Roger Salinas, U.S. Airforce, serving in Kuwait.

Rene Salinas, U.S. Army, deployed to the Middle East.

Alexa Arredondo, Air Force, stationed in Albuquerque, N.M.

Lee D. Lyles, Senior Airman, Air Force, stationed in San Antonio, on "standby."

Joseph Torres, stationed in Fort Hood, Army, to be deployed to Turkey this week.

Patsy Abila Salinas, U.S. Army, stationed in Fort Bliss.

Benito Juarez, Marines, came from training is in Pecos, will be stationed in San Diego.

Hector Prieto Rubio, U.S. Army.

Mark Prieto Corrales, U.S. Army.

Robert Prieto Natividad, U.S. Army, stationed in the Persian Gulf.

Airman Rebecca Natividad with the U.S. Air Force, serving in Saudi Arabia.

Erlinda Salgado-Ramirez serving with the U.S. Army in South Korea.

First Lt. David V. Carrasco serving with the U.S. Army in Kuwait.

Stephanie and Robert Babcock who are with the 74th Engineering Company at Fort Hood, to be deployed to the Persian Gulf this week.

Rojelio Marta with the U.S. Army serving in Kuwait.

Fernando Marta with the U.S. Army serving in Kuwait.

Martin Arreguy (former resident and Pecos High School graduate) now serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Persian Gulf.

Mark Abila with the U.S. Marine Corps. serving in Iraq.

Ernest Matta Jr. serving with the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf.

Johnny Villareal Mata serving with the U.S. Army, 32nd Division, in Kuwait.

Bobby Mitchell Johnson, with the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.

Sgt. Robert Overcash, the U.S. Marine Corps.

Roger Cortez, U.S. Army.

Nathan Lujan, U.S. Air Force.

Staff Sgt. Christopher Corrales with the U.S. Air Force, serving in Saudi Arabia.

Crystal Gayle Garcia, with the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Clovis, N.M.

Michael J. Carrasco, with the U.S. Army, stationed in South Korea.

T.J. Huffman, with the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Iraq.

Jeremy "Jerry" Lara with the U.S. Marine Corps, stationed in San Antonio, on "stand-by."

David Carrasco, with the U.S. Army, stationed in Virginia.

Sr. Airman Clint Hounshel with the U.S. Air Force stationed in San Antonio.

Lance Corporal Eric Aguilar serving with the U.S. Marine Corps.

From Balmorhea:

Melchor Avalos, Marines, serving in Iraq.

Arturo Miranda, Marines, serving on the front line.

Chris Natividad, Marines, serving on the front line.

Logan Humphries, Air Force, deployed to the Middle East.

Amparo Balderas, U.S. Navy, stationed in Japan.

Maria Balderas, U.S. Navy, stationed in San Diego, Calif.

Efrain Rodriguez, U.S. Air Force, stationed in North Carolina.

Josh Pogue, U.S. Army.

Osbaldo Rodriguez, U.S. Army, serving in Germany.

If you would like to add a name to our list, call 445-5475 or come by the office located at 324 S. Cedar.

Weather

PECOS, Fri., April 4, 2003 -- Yesterdays high 88, low 61. Today mostly sunny. Highs 80 to 85. West winds 10 to20 mph. Tonight mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Southwest winds 5 to15 mph. Saturday mstly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph shifting to the west 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Saturday night. Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Sunday mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. Monday partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Highs in the mid 70s. Tuesday mostly cloudy and cooler. Slight chance of rain. Lows in the lower 40s. Highs in the mid 50s. Wednesday mostly clear. Lows in the mid 30s. Highs in the mid 60s. Thursday partly cloudy. Lows near 40. Highs in the mid 70s.



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Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.

324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net

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Copyright 2003 by Pecos Enterprise