Robert Rosas
SAN DIEGO -
A Mexican teenager pleaded guilty Friday in the murder of Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas Jr., federal prosecutors said.
Christian Daniel Castro-Alvarez, age 17, signed a plea agreement admitting that he illegally entered the United States on the evening of July 23, 2009, for the purpose of robbing a Border Patrol agent. He and others lured Rosas from his patrol vehicle and during the robbery, Castro-Alvarez struggled with the agent over his pistol. During the tussle, Catro-Alvarez and at least one other member of the group shot the agent, killing him.
An autopsy revealed that Rosas had been shot eight times.
The teenager voluntarily turned himself in to U.S. officials at the San Ysidro port of entry on Aug. 14, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Officials did not say what role, if any, Mexican authorities played in Castro-Alvarez's capture or whether his alleged co-conspirators have been identified.
"Today's guilty plea makes it clear that those who harm our brave men and women in uniform will be swiftly brought to justice and punished," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said, in a written statement. "I am confident that any others involved in Agent Rosas' tragic death will also be held responsible, and I applaud the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI, as well as the Government of Mexico for their cooperation in this case."
Castro-Alvarez faces a maximum sentence of life in prison according to the plea agreement. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 19, prosecutors said.
Christian Daniel Castro-Alvarez, age 17, signed a plea agreement admitting that he illegally entered the United States on the evening of July 23, 2009, for the purpose of robbing a Border Patrol agent. He and others lured Rosas from his patrol vehicle and during the robbery, Castro-Alvarez struggled with the agent over his pistol. During the tussle, Catro-Alvarez and at least one other member of the group shot the agent, killing him.
An autopsy revealed that Rosas had been shot eight times.
The teenager voluntarily turned himself in to U.S. officials at the San Ysidro port of entry on Aug. 14, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Officials did not say what role, if any, Mexican authorities played in Castro-Alvarez's capture or whether his alleged co-conspirators have been identified.
"Today's guilty plea makes it clear that those who harm our brave men and women in uniform will be swiftly brought to justice and punished," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said, in a written statement. "I am confident that any others involved in Agent Rosas' tragic death will also be held responsible, and I applaud the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI, as well as the Government of Mexico for their cooperation in this case."
Castro-Alvarez faces a maximum sentence of life in prison according to the plea agreement. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 19, prosecutors said.
