Torture cop called to testify in Serrano-Montanez hearing for a new trial Monday

(From the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression)

 

Armando  Serrano   and Jose Montanez will have a hearing on their motion for a new trial on Monday, June 17, 2013  at 9:30 am in Courtroom 307  of the Cook County Criminal Court, 26 & California before Judge Maura Slattery Boyle.

Serrano and Montanez were convicted in 1994 of the murder of Rodrigo Vargas solely on the basis of testimony of a jailhouse snitch, who testified that the two had confessed to him in prison.   The snitch has since recanted, swearing that he implicated the two in exchange for a deal, and that Detective Reynaldo Guevara had beaten him up.  Serrano and Montanez are serving 45 year sentences for murder.  Serrano is in Dixon Correctional Center, and Montanez is in Danville Correctional Center.  Guevara is now retired.

Guevara and the snitch are both being called to testify at the hearing.  Guevara has been implicated in dozens of cases of wrongful conviction involving false confessions and torture of suspects and witnesses.

Fernando Serrano, Armando Serrano’s father, and Carmen and Norma Montanez, Jose Montanez’ mother and sister, will attend the hearing and will be available for comments,.  Serrano is represented by Atty.  Jennifer Bonjean of the Bonjean Law Group, and Montanez if represented by Atty. Russell Ainsworth, of the firm Loevy and Loevy.

Frank Chapman, Field Organizer for the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR), urged people to come to the hearing on Monday and “support these two innocent men.”

“They and their families are victims of a police crime,” Chapman charged.  “The fact that Serrano and Montanez are still in prison 20 years after this crime, and Det. Guevara is free, retired and collecting a pension just underscores the need for an elected Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC) to be over the Police Department. 

“CPAC will be able to refer cases like this to the Federal Grand Jury for deprivation of civil rights under the color of law, in violation of Title 18 of the U. S. Code Section 242.  Under this law Det. Guevara could be sentenced to natural life in prison.”

The Organizing Committee to Stop Police crimes of the CAARPR has called for a mass march on Chicago City Hall demanding passage of legislation enacting and empowering CPAC on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 11:00 am.  Information on the march can be obtained by calling the Alliance at 312-939-2750 or visiting www.StopPoliceCrimes.com.

For more information, contact Frank Chapman, 312-513-3795 or Ted Pearson, 312-927-2689.