A Mexican Standoff at the courthouse

Three guys walked into a Mexican grocery store last January. They tied up the owners and proceeded to rob the place. But the owner of the store works his way free, grabs his pistol, and begins shooting at the robbers.

Two of them get away; the third was not so lucky.

It’s against the law to rob a store. As it turns out, it’s even more “against the law” to shoot at the robbers.

Now, here’s where it gets a little complicated so get out a piece of paper and map out what has happened here.

Rafael Diaz is the owner of the store. Because he fired at the robbers as they took off down a busy street, he was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm. As far as we know, he didn’t hit anyone (not even the robbers) with his shots.

So Diaz failed to show up in court to answer the charges. He has “fled the jurisdiction” as they say.

Two of the robbers were never picked up. Sad Sac robber number three, Efrain Castanon, came to court and the charges were dismissed. The prosecutors sort of needed Diaz to testify and he wasn’t around.

They talked him into pleading guilty and placed him on probation.

But Castanon still doesn’t walk. He was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Now, what are the chances that this fellow gets deported, only to run into “Dead-eye” Diaz hiding out somewhere in Mexico? Just a thought.