Do you beleive this drunk illegal alien lawyer says had no intention of stealing the car with woman & child inside ?An illegal Mexican immigrant was drunk last month when he got into a car in Murrysville with a woman and her 10-year-old daughter and had no intention of hijacking the vehicle, his defense attorney said in court Tuesday.
District Judge Charles Conway of Murrysville dropped a robbery charge against Noe Tovar Baltazar but held him for trial on attempted robbery following a preliminary hearing.
The 23-year-old illegal alien is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison because he could not post the $20,000 bond. Federal authorities have lodged a detainer against Baltazar, who likely will be deported to Mexico once the case against him is completed.
Public Defender L.A. Smith argued that because he was intoxicated on March 18, Baltazar had no intention of stealing the car occupied by Rachel Reidel and her daughter, who were parked at the Village of Murrysville plaza.
“This clearly did not happen,” Smith told the judge. “The man obviously doesn’t understand English and the customs and culture of our country. He may be looking for a ride.”
Assistant District Attorney Mike Pacek said Baltazar attempted to reach for the steering wheel or the keys. That proves Baltazar’s intention, he said.
“In any culture, a man getting into a car with a woman and child is unacceptable. No culture in the world would accept that,” Pacek said. “He intended to get a ride from these ladies — if necessary, by force.”
The diminutive Baltazar sat quietly next to Smith listening to the testimony as an intepreter translated.
Charles Hirschy testified he was sitting in his car in the parking lot waiting for his wife when he saw Baltazar “come out of nowhere.” Baltazar was standing behind Reidel’s car and began to move along the passenger side, he said.
“I was watching him. He slowly moved to the passenger’s side … and began to walk to the side of the car,” he testified.
Hirschy said Baltazar opened the door and got into the car where the girl was sitting. He said Reidel got out of the car screaming.
“I heard her say, ‘This is a carjacking,’ or something to that effect,” Hirschy testified.
Murrysville police Officer Christopher Smith testified the girl attacked Baltazar.
“She started to scream, kick and actually elbow the man in the stomach,” Smith said.
Baltazar fled toward the rear of the plaza where another officer found him crouching behind a Dumpster, Smith said. He was taken into custody and was identified by Reidel, her daughter and Hirschy.
Smith said a subsequent investigation revealed that Baltazar was an illegal alien.
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