http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1124B1-Talker1124.html

Rancher ordered to pay $98,000 to Hispanic family in 2004 incident

Nov. 24, 2006 12:00 AM

Douglas rancher Roger Barnett, who gained notoriety because of his activism against illegal immigration, has lost a jury trial and was ordered to pay $98,000 to a Mexican-American family he confronted with an assault rifle.

The civil jury in Bisbee late Wednesday found in favor of the family of Ronald Morales of Douglas, who sued over the Oct. 30, 2004, incident. Morales, his father, two daughters and a friend in a hunting party were accused by Barnett of trespassing on his ranch. Armed with an AR-15 rifle, Barnett reportedly threatened the group and shouted racial slurs.

Barnett said he brandished his weapon because the group had rifles.

The jury assessed $210,000 in damages but found Morales and his father partly responsible. Morales had previously asked the Cochise County attorney to press criminal charges against Barnett, but no charges were ever filed.

Barnett has boasted about having detained more than 100,000 migrants in the past decade. Civil rights groups have accused him of vigilantism.

Two other lawsuits against Barnett have been dismissed. Calls to Barnett and his attorney on Thursday were not immediately returned.

- Ty Young

Wow, protecting your property against trespassing, border jumping invaders is "vigilantism"? This guy deserves a medal.

The lesson here, girls and boys, is LEAVE NO WITNESSES.
Dead Spics tell no tales.

I'd be interested to know the makeup of that jury.

This article makes me sick. They can tresspass and be rewarded.

I'm sure race was a major factor. The armed, tresspassing spics only had to claim that they were called names. Now they're rich.

It's like the zog is sending a message: "hey we will let 'legals' invade with impunity as well hahaha"

It's a message to mexicans. They are being encouraged to attack.