Image Credit: Residences at Hardin Valley / Facebook
Tennessee Conservative News [By Olivia Lupia] –
A Morristown contractor accused of obstructing ICE while they were carrying out a lawful immigration enforcement operation is seeking a separate trial from the other co-defendants in the case, claiming they have different interests.
Tyler Shane Wells, Alexander Bonilla-Servin, Nicholas Foy Pastore, and a fourth individual were accused of conspiring with each other to help conceal, harbor, and shield illegal aliens from detection for financial gain. Wells, 33, and Bonilla-Servin, 18, were indicted for trying to impede ICE officers from taking six illegal aliens into custody at a construction site in Hardin Valley.
Records state that Wells and Bonilla-Servin used a truck to block officers from entering the site and later struck a law enforcement vehicle with that truck. Wells filed a motion last month to dismiss his case, claiming the government had violated his rights by deporting all the witnesses, though it appears that motion was not granted given Wells’ new ask for a separate trial.
Now, Wells is petitioning the court to sever his case and try him separately from his three co-defendants, with the documents arguing that they have different interests with Wells’ being a speedy trial as he is still detained while the others have sought continuances for thorough litigation.
One motion also argues the viability and usage of a statement attributed to a co-defendant that said Wells asked Bonilla-Servin to block a road, saying that if the statement was offered during trial as a statement of a non-testifying co-defendant, Well’s legal team could not cross-examine them or contest the credibility of the statement.
Wells’ motion to sever and Bonilla-Servin’s motion to continue were presented at a June 1 hearing, and an order is to follow at a later date.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
