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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 22, 1983)
Page 8/The Battalion/Tuesday, November 22, 1983 i j Charged with alien smuggling Egg farmer pleads guilty United Press International SAN ANTONIO — The owner of a Denton County egg farm pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to one count of conspiring to import illegal aliens in a case criticized by U.S. Rep. Henry B. gon- zalez. In a plea bargain agree ment, Helen Mahard pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge before U.S. District Judge Fred Shannon. The agree ment also called for a guilty plea on behalf of the Mahard Egg Farm Inc. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Maeso charged that Mrs. Mahard and her husband con spired in February 1982 to im port illegal Mexican aliens to work on the egg farm near Prosper, Texas, in Denton County. The plea bargain also cal led for charges against Mr. Mahard to be dismissed at Mrs. Mahard’s Dec. 16 sen tencing. The maximum pen alty is five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The case was highlighted last week when Gonzalez, a Texas Democrat, charged that four aliens being held to testify in the case were farmed out to work long hours for low wages at a south Texas feed company. U.S. Attorney Ed Prado confirmed last week the four men had been farmed out by the Immigration and Natur alization Service. But Prado said federal officials were una ware the men were made to work up to 80 hours a week for a reported 85 cents an hour. When the aliens com plained about their working conditions, they were picked up by the U.S. Border Patrol. They had been in custody since last year waiting for the Mahard case to come to trial. Shannon ordered Monday that the four men be released and that money owed them by the U.S. Department of Labor be forwarded through a Mex ican consulate. “Let the people go,” Shan non told Prado. “It’s almost Thanksgiving. Let the people g°-” After the hearing, Prado turned to several Border Pat rol officials in the courtroom and told them, “We need to get rid of these people (aliens).” However, Prado told Shan non the government was not prepared to release up to 65 other illegal aliens, who are being held in Del Rio as mate rial witnesses in alien smug gling cases. 18-year-old charged with aiding a suicide 2 Ht' I.,.- IMSC ^1 the Origins of Polish Political Conflict INTERNATIONAL U< STUDENTS H ASSOCIATION United Press International HOUSTON — Kent Kretsin- ger’s suicide, allegedly with his girlfriend’s aid, shattered the lives of two families. Now, 15 months later, the families are immersed in an unprecedented court case. Kretsinger’s girlfriend, Jean LeeAnn Miller, now 18, is charged with aiding a suicide, a felony in Texas carrying a max imum possible penalty of 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Arraignment is scheduled Dec. 5, with trial expected some time next spring. Friends said Kretsinger was outwardly a happy-go-lucky high school graduate when he shot himself in the chest with his father’s .38-caliber pistol Aug. 27, 1982. Miller is charged with aiding Kretsinger by driving him to his house that day and addressing his suicide notes, for which she allegedly provided envelopes. The case almost was over be fore it began. State District Judge Charles Hearn dismissed the original indictment last May, ruling prosecutors did not spe cify how Miller supposedly helped Kretsinger killed him self. But another judge, Michael McSpadden, best known locally for putting people in jail for not saying “yes, sir” and “no, sir” to him in court, took a personal in terest in the case. He went before a grand jury whose foreman was a lawyer, Frank Briscoe, who had handled some legal affairs in Kretsinger’s death. Kretsinger and Miller met in summer school, where Kretsin ger was taking a course he needed to graduate from high school. Friends said Miller was some thing of a novelty when she came to Klein High School one day with her hair dyed purple. Friends said she was heavily into punk rock music. She also wrote poetry dealing with anger and suicide. “Kent was fascinated with her,” recalled friend Matt Bran don, now attending Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. He was a long-distance run ner, an aspiring photographer and a saxophone player. Kret singer was working as a busboy, preparing to go to junior col lege. Friends said Kretsinger was known to talk of committing suicide, but his mother, Ann, a single parent and assistant man ager of a furniture store, de scribed him simply as “my loving son.” She said he did not show any suicide inclinations, although he did leave a will, leaving his car and other belongings to Miller. In suicide notes to friends and family, Kretsinger said he was happy and gave no reason. LONGIN PASTUSIAK POLISH PARLIAMENT ADVISOR MSC RM.201 ^^TTlerruytucd Student Cenfpn i ,o<c “I thought she had a po»( over him,” Mrs. Kretsinger "But it was the power ofl( Kent died for love. Helovedfj like you love a person for weeks.” Mrs. Kretsinger did notal Miller to come to the funeral Miller’s parents, Jack Miller, had a different viei the relationship between Ki singer and their daughter. “He had an incrediblepoi over Jean,” they said inawriti statement. “He convinced In that he would only be hapraf he committed suicide. ; “It appeared he had planning his suicide for si time. He had developed a to make sure the attemptwoil be successful this time Hepfe. ned the entire scenario.” Prosecutor Don Stricklinsaifi “I have no doubt that Kentfe singer shot himself.” Ash whether Miller was present the time, Stricklin added that we can prove.” Mrs. Kretsinger said she J disappointed when the cased dismissed the first timebutak was surprised whenagrandjim became involved after thejudjel dismissed the case. “I don’t want to hurt Jen But it’s not right for things to happen and be forgotten. AikI|| don’t want this to happenloanr one else,” Mrs. Kretsingers;' “I’m not bitter. But my twokil!| are my life.” Mrs. Kretsinger believes lit! son’s death was caused by tit influence of punk-rock musi with its lyrics focusing on hopt lessness, but she said she parti blames herself. “Most parents are embatro sed or ashamed and don’twanti known. I’m beyond that,” sk said. The Millers indicated in the:: statement they feel their daugk ter is a victim of the suicide,am! they said she has had consider able difficulty since, indudint undergoing psychiatric treat ment. fe Jim 1 majo Pury United “Evidently, there isadesirett cause as much damage as poss I ble to Jean, even though shebil victim of the suicide, not tlitIWASHII' cause,” the family stateme: ttillnosubs said. Bod, but fete repo emporary |m cattle toon in e jthe bait Resean L | id the p bbits anc and ready for pickup 8:00-5:00 tn to tis: blood I munolo I tains to b the prodi feople. 1 “This r |te for bl feola, pr< I Texas Te< luthorof t Surgery, stetrics. . Theidt lutes is to tarry oxyj plenish 1 where rea whether I lack of pr Such f patient al hours, un formed, b Itanspo r arrange< fended t< Room 230 Reed McDonald Bldg. (if you have pre-paid; check your fee slip)