Image Credit: Residences at Hardin Valley / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
A Knoxville contractor accused of conspiring to impede ICE in their enforcement duties has filed a new motion to dismiss in his case, claiming the government has violated his rights by deporting all the witnesses.
Tyler Shane Wells of Morristown was previously indicted for trying impede ICE officers from taking six illegal aliens into custody at a construction site in Hardin Valley. Records state that Wells and 18-year-old Alexander Bonilla-Servin used a truck to block officers from entering the site and later struck a law enforcement vehicle with that truck.
Officers also alleged that Bonilla-Servin conducted surveillance on the agents before eventually using the truck “as a dangerous and deadly weapon.”
In March, a grand jury issued a new indictment which superseded the original, adding charges for two more individuals in the conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens for financial profit.
Now, Wells’ new motion to dismiss argues that the government’s deportation or incentivization to leave the country of the six illegals has prevented Wells from interviewing them or calling them as witnesses, citing the Fifth and Sixth Amendments which offer defendants a “compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor”.
The motion states that none of the six illegals worked for Wells directly, corroborated by statements from these individuals, and that had they been allowed to stay could have testified to that fact and refuted an allegation that Wells drove one or more of them to a hotel.
“Mr. Wells had the right to interview and present them in his defense case through compulsory process. Yet the Government put them out of reach,” the motion read.
As the motion was just filed on Thursday, there has not been any word yet from the court as to whether it will consider or dismiss it or when Wells trial, originally scheduled to begin in March, will commence.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
