LilMtnCbn
04-16-2004, 06:32 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA16.01A.baby_smuggle_fol
o_0416.336c5794.html
Adoption agent's trial ends quickly
Web Posted: 04/16/2004 12:00 AM CDT
Jesse Bogan
Express-News Border Bureau
LAREDO —— This time it was Maria Dolores Bondoc crying in the courtroom.
After displaying little emotion since her 2002 arrest on charges of running an
illegal adoption network that smuggled pregnant Mexican women into the United
States, Bondoc agreed to plead no contest Thursday as testimony was to begin on
the second day of her trial.
After a private conference with her family, defense attorney and prosecutors,
Bondoc returned to the courtroom, wiped tears from her face with a red
handkerchief and, at times, glared at three young mothers who were previous
clients of hers at AAA-Alamo Adoption Agency.
Bondoc accepted a plea agreement of eight years without the chance to appeal.
She'll be eligible for parole in two years.
Two of her clients had wept on the witness stand Wednesday, and three jurors
had tears in their eyes when witness Norma Salazar spoke of trying to get her
son back after being pressured into giving him up when she was 17.
Two more mothers were lined up to take the stand Thursday.
"She felt that she had done nothing wrong and wanted to fight this to the end,"
defense attorney David Almaraz said after the trial. But "it was overwhelming
the number of people who were going to be put on to accuse her of all kinds of
things. There was so much that was admitted (as evidence) that was
inflammatory. ... We felt that she was being tried for committing other crimes
that she was not charged for."
Bondoc was on trial for one count of purchase or sale of a child and one count
of unlawful transport of an individual, stemming from the experiences of Leidi
Arguello, 22, who was smuggled across the Rio Grande on an inner-tube at night
— eight months pregnant.
She testified she then lived with Bondoc's family until giving birth.
Similar charges were pending involving Bondoc's dealings with three other
Mexican women. The guilty plea covers all charges against her. Three other
charges of delivery of a dangerous drug, which is used to induce labor, were
dropped.
Almaraz asked state District Court Judge Elma T. Salinas Ender if Bondoc could
remain free until formal sentencing later this month so she could attend to
some family matters, but the request was denied.
Then, after each charge was formally addressed, Almaraz asked again.
"Would the court consider at least two days?" he asked.
"No, sir," Ender replied.
Several members of Bondoc's family maintained she was innocent. A son-in-law
complained about her defense.
After they were dismissed, four female jurors said they thought Bondoc was
guilty. Besides testimony by Arguello and Salazar, they said they were swayed
by evidence of personal information sheets improperly filled out for Arguello
and that Bondoc failed to properly document expenditures for birth mothers.
"You just felt sorry for the girls," said Silvia Duenas, 49, a juror who has
three children. "No matter how educated girls are, when they find themselves in
that situation —— pregnant —— they trust other people to help them."
Margarita Gomez, 42, another juror, said, "I hope this opens the eyes of other
agencies that are trying to do this, or are doing the same thing. Adoption is
beautiful, and it shouldn't be taken advantage of."
Bondoc was the representative here for AAA-Alamo, which is headquartered in San
Antonio, for five years. She previously had worked at least 10 years at ABC
Adoption Agency, family members said.
Bondoc said she was involved with 30 adoptions at Alamo, but Roberto Balli, the
lead prosecutor in the case, said the states' investigation indicates that 30 a
year was more likely. Alamo's attorney, Ron Prince, declined to comment on
Bondoc's case or her history with the agency.
A Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services supervisor testified
Wednesday that officials are still trying to revoke Alamo's license. Alamo has
appealed the case against it, and it remains open pending a decision by the
State Office of Administrative Hearings.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
o_0416.336c5794.html
Adoption agent's trial ends quickly
Web Posted: 04/16/2004 12:00 AM CDT
Jesse Bogan
Express-News Border Bureau
LAREDO —— This time it was Maria Dolores Bondoc crying in the courtroom.
After displaying little emotion since her 2002 arrest on charges of running an
illegal adoption network that smuggled pregnant Mexican women into the United
States, Bondoc agreed to plead no contest Thursday as testimony was to begin on
the second day of her trial.
After a private conference with her family, defense attorney and prosecutors,
Bondoc returned to the courtroom, wiped tears from her face with a red
handkerchief and, at times, glared at three young mothers who were previous
clients of hers at AAA-Alamo Adoption Agency.
Bondoc accepted a plea agreement of eight years without the chance to appeal.
She'll be eligible for parole in two years.
Two of her clients had wept on the witness stand Wednesday, and three jurors
had tears in their eyes when witness Norma Salazar spoke of trying to get her
son back after being pressured into giving him up when she was 17.
Two more mothers were lined up to take the stand Thursday.
"She felt that she had done nothing wrong and wanted to fight this to the end,"
defense attorney David Almaraz said after the trial. But "it was overwhelming
the number of people who were going to be put on to accuse her of all kinds of
things. There was so much that was admitted (as evidence) that was
inflammatory. ... We felt that she was being tried for committing other crimes
that she was not charged for."
Bondoc was on trial for one count of purchase or sale of a child and one count
of unlawful transport of an individual, stemming from the experiences of Leidi
Arguello, 22, who was smuggled across the Rio Grande on an inner-tube at night
— eight months pregnant.
She testified she then lived with Bondoc's family until giving birth.
Similar charges were pending involving Bondoc's dealings with three other
Mexican women. The guilty plea covers all charges against her. Three other
charges of delivery of a dangerous drug, which is used to induce labor, were
dropped.
Almaraz asked state District Court Judge Elma T. Salinas Ender if Bondoc could
remain free until formal sentencing later this month so she could attend to
some family matters, but the request was denied.
Then, after each charge was formally addressed, Almaraz asked again.
"Would the court consider at least two days?" he asked.
"No, sir," Ender replied.
Several members of Bondoc's family maintained she was innocent. A son-in-law
complained about her defense.
After they were dismissed, four female jurors said they thought Bondoc was
guilty. Besides testimony by Arguello and Salazar, they said they were swayed
by evidence of personal information sheets improperly filled out for Arguello
and that Bondoc failed to properly document expenditures for birth mothers.
"You just felt sorry for the girls," said Silvia Duenas, 49, a juror who has
three children. "No matter how educated girls are, when they find themselves in
that situation —— pregnant —— they trust other people to help them."
Margarita Gomez, 42, another juror, said, "I hope this opens the eyes of other
agencies that are trying to do this, or are doing the same thing. Adoption is
beautiful, and it shouldn't be taken advantage of."
Bondoc was the representative here for AAA-Alamo, which is headquartered in San
Antonio, for five years. She previously had worked at least 10 years at ABC
Adoption Agency, family members said.
Bondoc said she was involved with 30 adoptions at Alamo, but Roberto Balli, the
lead prosecutor in the case, said the states' investigation indicates that 30 a
year was more likely. Alamo's attorney, Ron Prince, declined to comment on
Bondoc's case or her history with the agency.
A Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services supervisor testified
Wednesday that officials are still trying to revoke Alamo's license. Alamo has
appealed the case against it, and it remains open pending a decision by the
State Office of Administrative Hearings.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
