Kate Steinle case gunman indicted on federal weapons charges
Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, seen above in an undated booking photo, was acquitted of murder charges by a California jury in a state court last week, but now faces new, federal charges (Photo: San Francisco Police Department)
A federal grand jury on Tuesday handed down an indictment of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate for a pair of felony gun charges.
Garcia Zarate, currently in the San Francisco County Jail, was found not guilty last week of all homicide charges in the July 2015 death of Kate Steinle. Facing up to three years on a weapons conviction under California law, federal prosecutors announced the indictment this week on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and for being an illegally present alien in possession of a firearm, each carries punishments of up to 10 years in prison.
The Mexican national, listed by four aliases on his indictment, had at least seven felonies and five deportations under his belt and was the subject of a federal detainer order prior to Steinle’s death.
Prior to Tuesday’s charges, federal authorities were reportedly seeking to get custody of Garcia Zarate and ultimately deport him.
“When jurisdictions choose to return criminal aliens to the streets rather than turning them over to federal immigration authorities, they put the public’s safety at risk,” said U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions last week after the verdict in Garcia Zarate’s local case was announced. “San Francisco’s decision to protect criminal aliens led to the preventable and heartbreaking death of Kate Steinle.”
San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón, whose office prosecuted Garcia Zarate, said the jury’s decision last week was “hard to receive” but that he respects the decision.
Read More On:
Latest Reviews
-
The Baby Glock Centimeter: A Review of the New G29 Gen 5 10mm Carry Pistol
Whether straying into the backcountry or just a fan of the 10mm Auto, Glock has long had one of the smallest carry guns offered in that caliber and we have been kicking around its latest variant for a couple of months.
Read More -
AMT Backup .380 Review: Fun With a Retro Pocket Pistol
I’m rather fascinated with pocket guns, so when I came across this AMT Backup 380 in Guns.com's Certified Used stockpile, I had to give it a try. It's an interesting and affordable retro pistol.
Read More -
Winchester Model 100 in .243 Win Stands the Test of Time
Every now and then I happen upon a neat little rifle I’ve never heard of, like this Winchester Model 100. Let's see if this mid-century deer hunter chambered in .243 Winchester still has what it takes.
Read More -
Palm Full of Parabellum: A Review of the 9mm Bond Arms Stubby
Texas-based Bond Arms, the country's go-to maker of double-barreled derringer-style handguns in usable calibers, recently introduced an ultra-compact new 9mm-- the aptly named Stubby.
Read More
