Illegal alien driver convicted in Cottonwood bus tragedy
You remember the horrible schoolbus accident in Cottonwood, MN that resulted in the deaths of these four beautiful kids:
The remorseless illegal alien driver responsible for wreaking this bloody havoc was convicted on all 24 counts. You’ll remember that she lied to police, telling them she was from Mexico, and blamed the accident on her boyfriend:
In the end, a Kandiyohi County jury believed that Olga Franco was behind the wheel of a van when it plowed into a loaded Cottonwood school bus nearly six months ago, killing four students and injuring 17.
The 24-year-old Guatemalan native, who had claimed that her boyfriend was driving the van, showed no emotion when the verdict was read — guilty on all 24 counts, including criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular injury. Family members of the victims wept quietly as the verdict was read about 10 p.m.
Over more than four days of testimony from crash experts and other witnesses, the jurors had been faced with one central question: Had Franco been driving the van that plowed into the bus on Feb. 19?
Even if they had determined that Franco wasn’t behind the wheel and had acquitted her, she hadn’t been expected to walk out of the courthouse. She still faces federal identity theft charges and was likely to be deported because authorities say she is in the country illegally.
After the verdict, David Javens, grandfather of two of the children killed in the crash, Hunter and Jesse Javens, emerged from the courtroom smiling.
“It’s what we were waiting for, I guess,” he said.
Info on the Cottonwood schoolchildren’s memorial fund is here.
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That was quick. Why can’t we have more cases like this?
Is it me or does she kinda look like the White Witch from the Narnia movies?
Of course, that was just the first act. Now comes years and years of appeals, wasting more of our money and time.
Waiting for the ACLU and La Raza to step in and denounce this obviously biased verdict.
/sarc
Texas just opened a cell on death row. I’ll volunteer to transport her there.
I guess my question, and one thats not answered in the article is, what punishment does she face for this?
I would point this out as a perfect example of what allowing illegals into our country, and not actively and definitively dealing with them (i.e. removing them from the country, building the fence, and being tough on illegal immigrants) brings about. This person didn’t belong here, entered our country in violation of immigration law, is guilty of identity theft, lying to the police, and for the deaths of those 4 children.
When we start treating this subject seriously and start DOING something about these illegals?
I thought they were all here to “do jobs us citizens won’t do”???? Does that include identity theft???
Knowing Minnesota, the sentence will probably be 6 months which will allow for time already served leading up to the trial…
Another reason to start targeting government officials who refuse to uphold the law. Prosecution and/or loss of jobs. No playing games. They are not above the law.
Deported? The crash she caused killed four people, and she’s sent home!? For what? To think about what she’s done? Why not threaten to send her to bed without dessert? The article doesn’t seem to say what the sentence could be. Hopefully, it will be a long time before she is “punished” by being sent home.
It makes sense to leave our borders wide open so that more of god’s children can enter and do the work that lazy Americans won’t do. These people are yearning learn English, assimilate and become good citizens. We need comprehensive immigration reform because the best, brightest and most educated of Mexico are now here in great numbers just waiting for the chance to raise the intelligence level of America by becoming citizens.
Time served.
Free plane ticket home.
Short vacation
Back with new stolen/forged papers in no time at all.
“dis cuntwy bin vewry goood du me”
She will be deported and what guarantees will we have that she will not return to the U.S.? It’s not like we have a fence barring her re-entry.
I agree she should be deported.
In a pine box.
It’s clear there are no winners in this case, and my sympathies lie with everyone involved, but this entire incident perfectly illustrates how and why the mandated enforcement of immigration laws benefits all parties involved. To wit, Ms. Franco would not be facing the jail sentence she is today had she been deported the first time she apprehended for erratic driving.
Or a government that cares about the welfare of it’s own citizens.
Lettuce is cheap… be happy!
Illegals are important. The census bureau wants to count them. How many states were saved from loosing a seat in the House because illegals were counted as part of our population? Why else would the congress ignore all the polls stating that Americans want a FENCE, the BORDER SECURED, EMPLOYERS PUNISHED and illegals DEPORTED? Because it is in congress’ best interest to pander to illegals.
I have to say that the only thing more frustrating then reading about these atrocities is the realization that people don’t seem to be interested in organizing and pushing back.
Did you all read what the liar/lawyer actually said?!
“I’m going to do everything I can to help her, and I’m not going to leave her until she’s back in her country,” he said, adding that Franco is confused about the legal system here and what has happened to her.”
Confused? Is slaughtering children not illegal in Guatemala?!
Is this chump for real!?
Depends on whose children they are, and who you are.
I’m serious.
What will it take before the American people wake up on this issue?
Deport her…. to North Korea!!!!!!!!! All Illegal Aliens should be tossed over the fence at the DMZ.
The important question here is “did she have access to the Guatemalan consulate?”
We wouldn’t want the world court overturning this conviction.
I feel so bad for the families of this preventable tragedy. And I’m wondering if any of them have filed suit against the people/agencies that turned her back out onto the streets.
But the important thing is that government by the lettuce farmers, of the lettuce farmers, for the lettuce farmers shall not perish from the earth.
Something tells me vehicular homicide is not a light charge with a light sentence. Especially when it was 4 children in a school bus who were killed by this person.
Only the innocent law-abiding citizens of said government.
I’d bet my next six mortgage payments that it’s wildly disproportionate to the crime… and not on the “too severe” side.
I hope this remorseless bitch gets multiple, consecutive life sentences for the deaths of those 4 kids. My thoughts are with those poor families.
Don’t worry, soon some more of god’s chldren will cross over to do the jobs that the people she killed won’t do.
I watched a movie once where these aliens came down and killed the humans and replaced them….
Maybe her lawyer can get into a church and some of the religious nuts we also support can protect her.
Bigot in da house!
These illegal aliens provide nice cheap labor to drive down wages and cheap domestic help for our would be elites. So they kill thousands of our citizens in traffic accidents, rapes and robberies, what is that compared to tea on the veranda of a John McCain or Ted Kennedy? So they require Billions of dollars in social services and medical treatment, what is that compared to driving down the wage on construction sites, restaurants and such?
I doubt many of the Amnesty crowd cares or even knows of this tragedy; these were merely the children of the people whose wages they want to drive down. I do believe this issue may well cost the Republicans the White House and Johnny Mac will not know why; that is how arrogant they have become.
http://www.dontspeakforme.org/
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His Messiahship be mocked
Allie OOP OOP be praised
Yep, there is the mantra of small minds. Racist! Bigot! lol
The mantra of small minds is calling anyone who believes in God a “religious nut”. But I don’t need to convince you of that, you do such a good job of making yourself look like a fool everyday on this blog.
Hey, I don’t care what you believe. Just keep it to yourself, stop letting your churches be tax deferred, don’t harbor criminals in your god’s house, and maybe you will go to a magic place in the sky someday… and take the rest of god’s children with you please.
The Constitution says I have the right to religious freedom (not that I need the Constitution to dictate what is a natural right, people like you only respond to the Constitution) and it does not limit me to talking about or practicing my faith in my home or church. So you can close your eyes and cover your ears if you don’t like it
And I don’t agree with any church that would harbor an illegal alien, so thanks for bunching us all together bigotboy. And as to the magic place, you might want to consider your life of debauchery before having to meet your Creator. Just sayin’.
grizzly, you forgot to call Rob a “demon puppet”.
That’s reserved for a special individual and if you had stayed on track it was derived from a much much older post about a hollow man. But thanks for playing
The constitution guarantees me the right to open my eyes and uncover my ears if I want.
And anyway, shouldn’t you be turning the other cheek, or leaving vengence for the lord, or forgiving me for I know not what I do, or some other platitude like that?
Hey, how come you get to put down my debauchery but I can’t put down your judgemental lifestyle?
I’m not being judgemental, I’m stating the obvious. That all of us, myself included, live a life of debauchery and some people choose a worldview that rationalizes it to the point of not being an issue and surpresses their conscience. If that is what you choose then so be it, but don’t be surprised when I call you out for being a bigot towards those of us whose worldview includes a Creator when you start your trash talking tirades. Atheists always claim we’re judgemental, only because our very statement that there is a God smacks in the face of your rationalization for your life choices that are contrary to what is deemed “holy” and “righteous”. I’m not judging you, I was you for many many years. It takes an act of humilty not pride to set aside yourself in service.
Anyhow, not that you care much. Until next time.
why isnt the MSM showing the Americans death tolls at the hands of illegals ???
Its ok to push the number of americans killed in iraq and afganistan but at home when americans are murdered by people who shouldnt be here in the first place . its swept under the rug .
.
Good Morning Rob
But no, we will not keep it to ourselves, we are NOT to light a candle and put it under a bowl, sorry.
-Hey, I don’t care what you believe.- Perhaps you can convince yourself of that; I think you really do wonder.
-don’t harbor criminals- Those who do have no God given authority to do so and so are criminals not only by man’s law, but God’s.
-stop letting your churches be tax deferred- The power to tax is a power to destroy but it won’t work. God’s Church has survived more.
-and maybe you will go to a magic place in the sky- I am not too sure about the “sky” and “magic place” but yes we will. I hope someday you make it too.
And may my fellow believers and I bless you and give thanks for your mockery, as we are told to do.
A miracle indeed, even a post about Illegal alien driver can be used to pronounce God’s Word. Thank you Rob, and God’s Blessings.
I hope they throw the book at her. 4 lives gone. If she had stayed in her own country and not been here illegally, those kids would be alive today.
How many have to die to get our laws enforced and our border secured?
I hope they throw the book at her. 4 lives gone. If she had stayed in her own country and not been here illegally, those kids would be alive today.
How many have to die to get our laws enforced and our border secured?
Rob is yet again making himself the biggest a****** on this blog. He almost makes me think that he deserves to be surrounded by the illegals he complains of in So. Cal. Just desserts.
Anyhoo, I don’t know what I would want for this illegal criminal. If we throw her in prison, we pay for her support there, not to mention the endless appeal process. If we deport her, she could come back, and it’s an injustice for her to get off so lightly.
Build the fence NOW. Deport illegals NOW.
I too wonder and worry on all those things; but she did committ murder and this society does demand retribution for murder. Some people refer to it as ‘corrections’ but I disagree–we are not grading their english compositions.
Well yes, but there go half our stolen cars in this county!
AZ Neanderthal:
Well, it’s not murder, but homicide. Big difference.
Only technically; she killed four people while willfully disregarding other laws both before and after the accident that killed these four people. That willful disregarding of some of those laws directly contributed to the four deaths. In many jurisdictions a case could well be made for murder and a harsher sentence.
But the law and the jury have ruled. Down here on the border we get too many cases such as this; the perps often head for the border if they can get bail. There is little down side for illegals killing our people.
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His Messiahship be mocked
Allie OOP OOP be praised
Not to the victims.
Good riddance. This woman killed 4 children through her careless disregard for our traffic laws. Of course, illegal apologists will want to give her a slap on the wrist because she’s an illegal.
The worst part of it is she’ll be in prison for a long time on the taxpayers’ dime. She’ll never have to face the cold, cruel prick of lethal injection. Then she’ll return to her third world hell hole of a country Guatemala.
If I was one of those parents, I’d want to tear her to pieces. My heart goes out to the families affected by this piece of trash. To the murderess: you deserve far far worse than what awaits you.
McCarbonTax:
“Our immigration system is broken. It is impractical and immoral to talk about deporting all the undocumented immigrants currently here. blah blah lettuce blah challenge you blah.
…
We need creative solutions for this problem!”
Wow… …
Sir, I stand in awe!
Sen. McCarbonTax should have you as LaRaza Outreach Assistant!
The system works, but it’s of little comfort to the grieving families.
We will see what the sentence is. I hope it is a long one. But, with federal charges, she may just be deported. That means she be back in the U.S., before they finish the paperwork. Crossing my fingers for a good sentence, for the families of the kids.
Manned guard towers and land mines.
Justice would have been better served if she had been arrested and deported before she had the chance to take American lives. But a guilty verdict will have to suffice for grieving parents of the inncocents.
On a related note, earlier today I saw on Drudge a story about an SUV accident in AZ that killed at least nine people. When I clicked over the article says at least 12 people were packed in the vehicle.
Since that immediately read way too sardine-ish to my eyes, I assumed it was more than likely some illegal-running of some sort going on. So I just checked other sources and ,yes, that was the case.
At the link Drudge has posted it’s just another “SUV gone wild” story.
Send her down to Sherrif Joe’s camp in AZ for 5 or 50 years.
The Arizona Republic
At least 9 suspected immigrants dead in crash, 10 injured
The damn Mexican Consulate here is one big expensive pain in the butt. You can bet the injured will get the best care Pima and Maricopa Counties can give; what kind of treatment do you think they, or you, would receive in Mexico? Several of the border counties had to close emergency rooms due to the flood of illegals.
Mi casa no es su casa-salga. grrr
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His Messiahship be mocked- the Botox Broad 2
Allie OOP OOP be praised
Maybe we could avoid raising taxes by having a lottery that revolves around guessing how many Americans will be killed or raped by illegal Mexican invaders this year. It could be really fun and we could root for our communities… those of us with a lot of Mexicans and anchor babies would have a good chance to make up some of the money lost from lowered property values and increased police and hospital costs!
And, of course, that’s the SUV’s fault, AZNeanderthal, not the human-smuggler’s.
On August 7th, 2008 at 9:34 pm, Rob said:
Well, that would actually be doing something constructive…
When I saw it on Foxnews at lunch earlier today it was 8 dead of 18 in the car. Appears numbers are now 9 dead of 19 in the car.
mojak420:
Excellent question. They could show the mangled bodies of those innocent children like they show bodies that Sadam dragged into a burning house.
This illegal alien was using stolen identity to get a job in Minnesota and gave that name to police after she was extracted from the vehicle she drove into the bus full of children. Then, she told police that the BUS HIT HER. When that was quickly proven to be a lie she changed her story to not being the driver of the killer vehiclce (not even an SUV). Then, on top of everything the local media here in Minnesota is calling her an immigrant…nothing about her being in this country illegally or stealing someone’s identity. Our local AP Minneosta and NBC affiliate are on her side of the illegal immigration issue and that is driving all the decisions they make on how this story is reported, even after she has been deemed guilty of killing someone.
If someone is killed by a drunk driver we are told that information about the driver because it is geramane. It is just as relevant if the driver of the vehicle is in this country illegally, yet our local MSM is intentionally keeping that information from us.
http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/CustomsToday/2001/September/other/custoday_bent.xml
AlaskanGrizzly, this is how they get 19 in a vehicle.
Let the illegals in… they steal, kill, rape, take identities, form gangs, tag, and otherwise wreak our country, but that is okay! McAmnesty wants to welcome god’s children. This is the way to maintain our country and be happy campers.