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Pedro Sosa, TX September 25
Do Not Execute Pedro Sosa!
Pedro Sosa
September 25, 2006
Texas
The State of Texas is scheduled to execute Pedro Sosa, a Latino, on September 25, 2006 for the kidnapping and shooting death of Ollie “Sammy” Childress, a white man and a Wilson County sheriff’s deputy.The State alleged that on Nov. 4, 1983, Sosa and his nephew, Leroy Vargas, abducted Childress on a highway outside of LaVernia, Texas and drove his patrol car, with Childress in the trunk, to the LaVernia State Bank.After robbing the bank, the two men drove to the outskirts of town where Childress was shot once in the neck.Sosa and Leroy fled in their own car, but returned after Sosa realized he had not wiped his fingerprints off the trunk of the patrol car.Upon finding Childress alive, Sosa purportedly shot him a second time in the neck.Sosa was apprehended three months later by FBI agents.
Sosa has been on death row for 23 years.He has been issued four dates of execution but received stays, pending completion of his appeals.His most recent execution date was scheduled for April of 2006 but was stayed after his attorneys filed a motion for withdrawal of his execution, arguing that the courts had yet to consider evidence that Sosa is mentally retarded.In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the execution of the mentally retarded violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.Generally, a person with an IQ of 70 or below is considered mentally retarded.Sosa scored a 66.
There are several issues surrounding the case that cast doubt upon Sosa’s guilt.For one, Leroy pled guilty to robbing the bank but told police that Sosa was the triggerman.Leroy received a life sentence in exchange for his testimony.Thus, it is not surprising that Leroy’s testimony is the only evidence that links Sosa directly to the crime.It is Sosa’s belief that Leroy implicated him because he did not want to take responsibility for the crime himself.Moreover, Sosa claims that law enforcement officials forced him to confess by threatening him and his wife, who was with Sosa at the time of his arrest.Sosa had no prior criminal record at the time of his arrest.Sosa maintains his innocence, denying any involvement with the kidnapping, bank robbery, or murder.
Not only is the State preparing to execute a mentally retarded person, it is planning to do so on a weak case.It is unacceptable to execute Pedro Sosa.Please write Gov. Rick Perry on his behalf.
Please write to Gov. Rick Perry on behalf of Pedro Sosa!
