UTEP player cleared

All criminal charges brought against UTEP basketball star Stefon Jackson have been dropped.

[Dave]

I hope he comes back. We really need him to make a run in the big dance.

[RJ Marquez]

EP Sheriffs are a bunch of incompetent losers including this Apodaca guy. What a dumba**.
They would have had a better case if they hadn't divulged so much information to begin with.
They made this out to be a witchhunt against Jackson when as Apodaca said much later it should have been about the murder suspects. HAHA...

[efw]

IF it had been anyone else other than a UTEP player they would still be in jail and facing charges. Isn't it wonderful how we not only give scholarships but get out of jail cards too.

[cant cme]

efw wrote:

IF it had been anyone else other than a UTEP player they would still be in jail and facing charges. Isn't it wonderful how we not only give scholarships but get out of jail cards too.

I hear you efw you took the words rite out of my mouth

[total crap]

i cant believe they just drop the charges like nothing. just because this kid is a good ball player and just so utep wont have a bad name. had it been anyone else, they wouldnt get off that easy! total crap!!!!!!

[Larry]

There is probably 10 people a year that actually get convicted of this charge. It gets dropped every time.

[SOS]

Stefon is a great player, but if ever wants to make it in the NBA he needs to get a felony charge to stick. How's it going to look if he show's up to the NBA without a conviction?

[They Shotted Scrappy]

"In reviewing the facts of this case, we don't believe there's sufficient evidence to indicate that a crime was committed. As far as this incident goes, it's over," Esparza said.
Slimey Esparza has the final say.

[stop hating]

Stop hating, this young man is a positive influence and is just trying to better himself and make something of himself which he probably would not be able to do if he was not playing ball. If you werent raised in the hood you dont know what its like to escape that lifestyle. He has, so big ups to him. Not only that, but like Larry said in his post this is a charge that gets dropped A LOT, just like unauthorized use of a vehicle, these things are hard to make stick and usually the defendant had no real intention of doin harm.

[Jacob]

A communuity's need for a competitive NCAA collegiate basketball team always overides federal warrants to apprehend a murder suspect. Any sheltering a fugitive, aiding and abetting and or lying to law enforcement must and will be routinely ignored by the El Paso DA's office. Miner's basketball always takes precedence. And you wonder why the El Paso city government does what it does. Yeah go Miners!!

[fernanda O]

total crap wrote:

i cant believe they just drop the charges like nothing. just because this kid is a good ball player and just so utep wont have a bad name. had it been anyone else, they wouldnt get off that easy! total crap!!!!!!

i be a black athlete @ chuTEP, i ain't got no convitction , later on i b in a correctional facility, but not 2day

bassetball rule in da 915, we be da gangstas of EP

[Monchis]

Right prevailed over might in the Stefon Jackson case!
Incompetent, overzealous deputies couldn't make trumped up charges stick!
Good for you, Stefon!
Deputies arrested Stefon simply because he was uncooperative. The last time I checked, not cooperating with the police is NOT A CRIME!
All you naysayers and conspiracy theorists just accept the fact that Stefon IS INNOCENT!

[timid observer]

Jacob wrote:

A communuity's need for a competitive NCAA collegiate basketball team always overides federal warrants to apprehend a murder suspect. Any sheltering a fugitive, aiding and abetting and or lying to law enforcement must and will be routinely ignored by the El Paso DA's office. Miner's basketball always takes precedence. And you wonder why the El Paso city government does what it does. Yeah go Miners!!

Better open up that other eye and see this happens everywhere regardless of team affiliation, amateur or professional status or even profession for that matter. Brett Favre abused illegal medication prescribed to him by a physician but he's a hero. Packer football took precedence. Phil Spector murdered Lana Clarkson and walks the streets of L.A. Rock & Roll took precedence. John Wayne was never prosecuted for draft-dodging WWII but he's also an American hero. America's ego took precedence. Go Miners!

[Awesome]

Good for you Stefon!!! I hope that you still stay with UTEP one more year and improve your stock for next years NBA draft. Good Luck in your future endeavors.
Oh, Don't listen to any of these haters, if it was there brother, father, husband, friend... they would be begging for drop charges.

[PAydirt]

DAmned if you DO and Damn if you DON'T. My brother was also charged with the same offense, the DA also dropped the case. Why spend tax payers money.

[Just another example]

The District Attorney operates on the dual law model.

One set of indulgent laws that caters to the rich, influential and their interests (i.e. athletes, family, themselves, their business etc).

Then there is the second set of no tolerance laws that caters to the rich, influential and their concerns (i.e. that there are two many commoners encroaching on and spoiling their insular world).

Lawbreakers who fall under the first set or laws are treated compassionately and with tolerance for their societal errors.

Lawbreakers who fall under the second set of rules are treated to the maximum force of the law. Examples need to be made of scuff laws and no penalty is too great.

Esparza’s dual law system enhances his position and standing in the community and ensures his continuous and uncontested rule as District Attorney.

Viva Jaime Esparza!

[Biscuit]

Just another example wrote:

The District Attorney operates on the dual law model.
One set of indulgent laws that caters to the rich, influential and their interests (i.e. athletes, family, themselves, their business etc).
Then there is the second set of no tolerance laws that caters to the rich, influential and their concerns (i.e. that there are two many commoners encroaching on and spoiling their insular world).
Lawbreakers who fall under the first set or laws are treated compassionately and with tolerance for their societal errors.
Lawbreakers who fall under the second set of rules are treated to the maximum force of the law. Examples need to be made of scuff laws and no penalty is too great.
Esparza’s dual law system enhances his position and standing in the community and ensures his continuous and uncontested rule as District Attorney.
Viva Jaime Esparza!

Free my people..The blacks are coming

[Soldier First]

SOS wrote:

Stefon is a great player, but if ever wants to make it in the NBA he needs to get a felony charge to stick. How's it going to look if he show's up to the NBA without a conviction?

lol

[Soldier First]

This kid better take this freebie to heart and realize that if he keeps hanging with his posse he will end up like vick.

If he is going to have a future in te NBA he needs to cut the teat to his posse.

[dante2810]

efw wrote:

IF it had been anyone else other than a UTEP player they would still be in jail and facing charges. Isn't it wonderful how we not only give scholarships but get out of jail cards too.

Have you even read the statute of what he was charged with?

Sec. 38.05. HINDERING APPREHENSION OR PROSECUTION.(a)[amended 9/1/95] A person commits an offense if, with intent to hinder the arrest, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of another for an offense or, with intent to hinder the arrest, detention, adjudication, or disposition of a child for engaging in delinquent conduct that violates a penal law of the grade of felony, he:
(1) harbors or conceals the other;
(2) provides or aids in providing the other with any means of avoiding arrest or effecting escape; or
(3) warns the other of impending discovery or apprehension.

Unless he knew that the police were there to arrest him, then he did not break the law. As far as what was reported, all the deputies said was that they were looking for him.
They also have to prove that he was hiding the person from them or helping the person escape. Lying to deputies about his cousins location without knowing for sure that he was a wanted felon (something that the prosecution would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt) is not a violation under this statute.

At worst, he is guilty of poor judgment. But then again, 99% of you would help out a relative in need just the same. Happens all the time in this city.