Alleged Smuggler Appears In Court

EL PASO – An admitted Mexican drug smuggler shot by a pair of U.S. Border Patrol agents later convicted in the shooting made his first appearance in federal courton Fridayon drug charges.

Osvaldo Aldrete Davila was shot in the buttocks in February 2005. He was fleeing from border agents during an attempted smuggling attempt.

Aldrete was in court in El Paso on charges that he smuggled marijuana into the United States in September and October of that year.

Former agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean are serving prison terms for shooting at Aldrete, then trying to conceal the shooting.

Aldrete was originally given immunity by theU.S.Attorney’s office to testify against the two.

He was arrestedThursday at the Ysletaport ofentry, anEl Paso border crossing.

In court, he did not speak except to say “yes, sir” in Spanish when asked by U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Mesa if he understood the charges against him.

Mesa said court records showed that Aldrete has hired a lawyer, though none was present during today’s brief hearing.

He is being held without bond at the El Paso County jail.