Monday, November 16, 2009

Cheap way out

Last Friday (the 13th) the Daily Herald carried a story about a Mundelein driver who gave a false name to a police officer after he was stopped on August 20. He claimed not to have a driver's license and was hoping the cop would not learn there was a warrant out on him for failing to appear on a DUI charge.

The Mundelein resident, Edgar Sanchez-Ortega, 35, had a Mexican government identification card. These cards are often called matricula consular cards, when they are issued by a Mexico consulate to Mexican citizens who are living abroad (e.g., in the United States).

The arresting officer found a small package of cocaine during a pat-down search. An Assistant State's Attorney (not McHenry County) made a deal on a plea bargain that, if Sanchez-Ortega pled guilty to Obstruction of Justice (having given a false name to the arresting officer), then he would drop the possession-of-cocaine charge. The deal included an 18-month sentence.

The article did not make a reference to whether Sanchez-Ortega was in the U.S. legally.

Which is more important - lying to a police officer or having cocaine in your possession? Well, at least we know in Mundelein.

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