Joseph Chagra, 50, Lawyer Linked to Assassination, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/15/us/joseph-chagra-50-lawyer-linked-to-assassination-dies.html. King, Wayne. To form an opinion after evaluating the facts and applyi, A second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal or conviction or multiple punishments for same offense. Mr. Chagra was one of three sons of a Lebanese rug merchant who had emigrated from Mexico to El Paso. "Three Are Found Guilty of Assassination of Federal Judge." The jury found Chagra guilty. I testified at the hearing to determine if his law license should be restored, telling the same story Ive told here, yet the prosecution never offered any assistance and the judge ruled that restoring the license would not meet the ends of justice. Joe had to support himself by writing briefs for other lawyers. Elizabeth Chagra died in prison of ovarian cancer in September 1997 at age 43. Investigators suspected that the murder was somehow connected to the growing drug trade in Texas. She was previously convicted of using a false name to buy a rifle, believed to be the murder weapon, and sentenced to three years. At one point in a rambling dialogue, Jimmy warned Joe that he was up to his neck in the murder plot. Charles Harrelson Trial: 1982-83 | Encyclopedia.com As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Copyright FameChain 2023, All rights reserved. March 2 (UPI) -- A Minnesota police officer came to the rescue of a raccoon he spotted running around with a jar stuck over its head. Guillermo has also worked in Central America, Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona and California and his work has appeared in various publications, including the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, New York Post, Newsday, Denver Post and the Albuquerque Journal. Judge Sessions gave Chagra only 10 additional years on his sentence, making him eligible for parole in 2007. Talented With Cards. CHAGRA: ASSASSINATION OF JUDGE JOHN WOOD AND LINKS TO CHARLES HARRELSON, FATHER OF WOODY. He wasnt a criminal; he was a nice person, she added. Charles Harrelson was born on July 23rd, 1938, in Lovelady, Texas, the son of Alma Lee (ne Sparks; 19072002) and Voyde Harrelson (19011976). Bill Thompson, HP staff / Houston Chronicle, S.A.-area rancher catches the hearts of American Idol judges, Take a look inside this $3.5 million 'mystery' mansion, USAA wants some remote employees in the office three days a week, Boy, 11, shoots self in head with gun he found in apartment, 10 things to do this weekend in San Antonio, New food truck park opens at The CO-OP SA, Heres why it hailed through the Alamodome last night, Chicken Salad Chick to open second S.A. location, Judge Sarah Garrahan-Moulder, who helped prosecute hit man Charles Harrelson in San Antonio, dies at 84, Look inside historic $2.3 million King William home. A convicted hit man's wife Monday won a first - UPI Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. March 3 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Britain responded to a home to rescue a horse that had fallen into its owner's swimming pool and was unable to get itself out. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kerr, who had prosecuted several drug cases before Judge Wood, had barely escaped an assassination attempt some six months before Wood was killed. I promised Samantha that I would write that Joe was a good father, and I know damn well he was. All but Jimmy live in El Paso. Time (October 25, 1982). It was then, the Government asserted, that ''the fear began. Another juror collapsed in her chair after the verdict was read and had to be helped from the courtroom. Almost immediately, investigators turned to Mr. Chagra's plush law offices. Our incoming donations used to be 70% used items. Eventually, the evidence pointed to Harrelson, in particular a taped conversation Chagra had with another brother who was a lawyer, Joe Chagra, in Leavenworth federal prison about the assassination. The citys first zoo featured animals from Texas and Mexico but no giraffe. In 1979, a federal grand jury in Midland, Texas, indicted Chagra on drug smuggling charges. Murder is perhaps the single most serious criminal offense. Even though every partner is The Harrelson Center has provided us with affordable rent, a safe and comfortable space to host volunteers, board meetings and support groups, and a wonderful event space to host larger events. . The trial for the Harrelsons and Elizabeth Chagra took place in the newly named John H. Wood Jr. courthouse over objections from defense lawyers. However, she testified that her husband had stalked into the house after a hearing with the judge and vowed, ''I'm going to kill him.''. The casinos loved him, of course, and their dealers loved him, too, because he was a big tipper. Through these collaborations, we have been able to extend our reach to help more families in our local community. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. The only other person in the world who knew that Harrelson did the hit on Judge Wood was Jimmy, who ordered it. The Chagras were known as key members of a so-called Dixie Mafia, heavily involved in drug smuggling. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Chagra and his wife, Liz, and young daughter relocated to Las Vegas in 1978 and moved into a house across the street from attorney Oscar Goodman. Wood died in 1979 when he was assassinated by Charles Harrelson. Woody Harrelson, the actor who played the part of the affable bartender in the television series Cheers, and also the lead in The People vs. Larmy Flynt, mounted an appeal in 1998, hiring famed criminal attorney Alan Dershowitz. Then-FBI Director William Webster dispatched dozens of agents to San Antonio for a massive investigation that resulted in Harrelson and four others being charged in connection with Woods assassination a killing still etched in the citys lore. "Charles Harrelson Trial: 1982-83 In effect, he was being tried for murder, when he claimed that his only involvement was in a con-game to get the murder pay-off money for a killing performed by someone else. 3 children killed, 2 hospitalized in North Texas domestic incident. The Jo Ann Carter Harrelson Center Inc. is a North Wood died in 1979 when he was assassinated by Charles Harrelson. Jo Ann Harrelson convicted of perjury - UPI Archives In a plea agreement, Joe Chagra got a 10-year sentence. The first giraffe in San Antonio was part of a traveling circus that stopped here in 1901. While awaiting trial, Chagra came into contact with career criminal Charles Harrelson, father of actor Woody Harrelson, in Las Vegas. Harrelson's jury found him guilty of murder of a federal employee, and he was also convicted on the charges of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Jo Ann Starr Harrelson: conspiracy to obstruct justice. Released in 1978, he married for a third time the next year, this time to Jo Ann Starr. USAA wants some remote employees in the office three days Jury takes an hour to reach verdict over deal at Port S.A. Texas Vista owner has threatened hospital shutdown before, Rosie Castros appointment much more than a 3-month council stint, Access to Bexar County Courthouse just got easier, Man and adult stepdaughter accused of sexual assault on children, Man suspected of serial arson in far south Bexar County area. Overdue book returned to Massachusetts library after 56 years. The officer didnt recognize Chagra, but Chagra revealed himself by saying, I give up., CHAGRA: FROM THE COURTROOM TO PRISON TO NOT GUILTY TO DEATH. Wood was called 'Maximum John' for his tough sentencing policies. At a subsequent trial, held in Florida because of the publicity in Texas, Jimmy Chagra was acquitted of murder and conspiracy to commit murder but convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and conspiracy to possess more than half a ton of marijuana with intent to sell. ." Instead, that day he was shot as he was leaving for court. US based Meghan and Harry.. FameChain has their amazing trees. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Since much of the wiretapping was inadmissible in court, the government had a major problem with its case: The only witness who could connect Jimmy with Harrelson was Joe. Joseph Chagra refused to testify against his own brother Jamiel (Jimmy), however. The prosecution charged that Harrelson, who had earlier served five years before being paroled of a 15-year sentence for killing a man for a $2,000 fee, This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. ", Woman wins $100,000 lottery prize 11 hours after $11,000 casino jackpot. ", Cindy Moore,Quality Services Director, GHA Autism Supports, "The Center has been such a big part of our growth and development providing us with a solid home base and a network of valuable partners.". She was previously convicted of using a Elizabeth Chagra was convicted of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice. After 18 hours of deliberation, a Federal jury, several members in tears, found three defendants guilty today on six counts of planning, carrying out and trying to cover up the assassination of Federal District Judge John H. Wood Jr. After the collective verdicts were announced, each of the nine women and three men on the jury, which began deliberating Saturday, was polled individually on all six counts. I told him he should.. At least 10 people have died in the wake of a severe weather system bringing fierce winds, damaging tornadoes and flash flooding to the U.S. South and Midwest. Chagra told Sheehan that he offered to plead guilty to having Judge Wood murdered, if theyd release my wife. Charles got double life sentences. After invoking the Click here to Start FameChaining. The Chagras said they were convinced that Judge Wood, who was scheduled to preside over Jimmy's case, had a bias against them. Woody Harrelson's dad Charles Voyde Harrelson was a career criminal who died in prison while serving two life sentences for murdering a judge in a contract But in the interviews, Chagra described himself as a megalomaniac.. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? Harrelson claimed that when the murder took place, he was in Dallas, 270 miles away. Image of Jimmy Chagra in handcuffs courtesy of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. Judge Woods 1979 slaying by Charles Harrelson was crime of the The 5th U.S. . Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Suspected burglar inside New Brunswick home was a panicked deer. They did a full-court press. Harrelson had been a suspect, but so had several others. Reports suggest Prince Charles will live "in a flat above the shop" when he becomes king. By Wayne King, Special To the New York Times. Jo Ann Harrelson was convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and later convicted of five counts of perjury. After Joe was killed, the bad publicity inevitably returned, so Patty took their daughter, Samantha, a seventeen-year-old high school honor student, to all the television stations in El Pasojust so they could see her face and know what they had put her through. After that, Patty told me, the flavor of the stories softened. Mr. Chagra testified not only that Mr. Harrelson had told him he had killed Judge Wood, but also that his brother had suggested killing the judge and had identified Mr. Harrelson as the man he paid to do so. All relationship and family history information shown on FameChain has been compiled from data in the public domain. March 3 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts library said a book was recently returned with a note apologizing for the tome being 56 years overdue. Sessions, who ordered a majority of the contempt hearing closed to the public, said during an interview with the news media in his chambers that Mrs. Harrelson's claim of marital privilege was the reason forpartial dismissal of the government's request. Charles Harrelson - Wikipedia Woody Harrelsons father is arrested for murder - HISTORY SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- A convicted hit man's wife Monday won a first round in her battle with federal prosecutors who want her jailed for refusing to testify against her husband in the probe of the slaying of a federal judge. Three years later, after moving to the Harrelson Center, we have a staff of 18 and are serving some 1500 people. - Steve Spain, Executive Director, Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity. He was sentenced to two life sentences. Prosecutors said Mrs. Harrelson lied to FBI agents, to a grand jury and in her previous trial. A police officer stopped his car. Defendants: Charles Voyde Harrelson, Jo Ann Starr Harrelson, Elizabeth Chagra, Jamiel ChagraCrimes Charged: Charles Harrelson: conspiracy to murder; murder of a federal judge; conspiracy to obstruct justice. One, Jerry Ray James, befriended Jamiel Chagra in prison and allowed his conversations to be secretly taped. Bikers and other street toughs were dragged in on hold-over charges. Jo Ann Harrelson, whose daughter has been imprisoned more than three months for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury, walked away from the federal Jo Ann Harrelson tried for perjury, and Jamiel and Elizabeth Chagra tried for tax evasion in Shreveport, Louisiana.Dates of Trials: October 7, 1982-December 14, 1982 (Charles Harrelson, Jo Ann Harrelson, Elizabeth Chagra); January 10, 1983-February 7, 1983 (Jamiel Chagra); March 1983 (Chagra trials for tax evasion and Jo Ann Harrelson trial for perjury)Verdicts: Charles Harrelson: guilty of murder of federal judge, conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to obstruct justice. It killed U.S. District Judge John H. Wood Jr. the first federal judge to be assassinated in the country. As each juror affirmed the vote of guilty on counts of conspiracy to murder, murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice, several had tears in their eyes and one woman shook visibly and broke into sobs. March 2 (UPI) -- A Maryland woman scored a $100,000 prize from a scratch-off lottery ticket less than 12 hours after she scored an $11,000 jackpot at a casino. ", Anne Best, Executive Director, Family Promise, The truest measure of love is revealed by how we respond to the needs of others. Harrelson said that Kay had about $135,000 of the payoff money delivered to him by Elizabeth Chagra as part of the scam. But unknown to Harrelson, the trial had been postponed, Ray Jahn said. Crimes Charged: First-degree murder an, Murder Joseph Chagra accepted a plea bargain. In his testimony, Mr. Harrelson said he was ''set up'' by George Edward (Pete) Kay, another gambler. The visiting room was bugged to gather information from mobster Nick Civella, also a Goodman client. A day after talking to Harrelson, Joe relayed what had been said about the Wood killing to his arrogant and tempestuous brother, who was furious. She had then given the rifle to George Kay. His court-appointed attorney, Thomas G. Sharpe, who defended him on two previous murder-for-hire charges, one ending in acquittal and the other in a 15-year sentence, said the verdict would be appealed. In addition to the testimony of Joseph Chagra, the government had evidence drawn from more than 1,000 recorded telephone and face-to-face conversations, most of them involving Jamiel Chagra in various prisons. Years later, the trial of Charles V. Harrelson revealed that Bill Bannister was a pseudonym Harrelson used to help track the judge, who was shot in the back outside his Alamo Heights townhome less than 2 miles from the motel as he was leaving for work. By September 1982, five suspects were under indictment: Joseph and Jimmy Chagra; Jimmy's wife, Elizabeth, and Mr. Harrelson and his wife, Jo Ann. He spent more than 35 years defending some of the most notorious alleged Mob figures, including Meyer Lansky, Frank Rosenthal, Anthony Spilotro and Jimmy Chagra. Support is He said that Mr. Kay had bilked Jamiel Chagra by telling him that it was he, Charles Harrelson, who had shot the judge and should collect the $250,000 payoff. The Center provides its nonprofit partners social and educational opportunities, marketing and promotions, volunteer recruitment and a place of collaboration for them to help those in need in our community. Elizabeth Chagra admitted she delivered the money but said she did not know what it was for. You cant imagine the shock when Jimmy Chagra was acquitted.. WebJo Ann Harrelson, Charles Voyed Harrelson and Elizabethnichols Chagra, Defendants-appellants, 754 F.2d 1153 (5th Cir. In an earlier trial, Mrs. Harrelson's husband, Charles Harrelson, was convicted of the 1979 assassination of U.S. District Judge John H. Wood Jr. in San Antonio, Texas, the only such killing of a sitting federal judge this century. The reward was eventually paid out to a handful of people who included a horrible creton bankrobber who shared a jail cell with Charles Harrelson, a woman who delivered the $250,000 payout for the hit to Harrelson, and a kid who found a piece of the murder rifle in a creek bed, said Sam Millsap, who chaired the reward committee. Chagra went into the Witness Protection Program in Arizona, and remarried. '', The fear, the Government asserted, was that of Jamiel Chagra, once described on an F.B.I. But Joe absolutely refused to testify against his brother as a matter of family honor. The next morning, May 29, using a high-powered rifle fitted with a scope, that man fired a shot that would be heard around the world. Goodman recognized the error of their plan when the trees in the scale model had no leaves on them. Because Joe was simultaneously representing Jimmy, who was serving thirty years without parole on a drug charge at the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, Harrelson had to assume that sooner or later Joe would learn the truth. In real life, it highlighted the criminal acts of those accused in Woods killing a drug lord, an actors father and some of their relatives. Harrelson argued that Kay's wife had purchased a Weatherby hunting rifle of the type used to kill the judge some 12 days before the killing. If I'm not the expert in one area, I know already that somebody is within the Harrelson Center. Joseph agreed that he should. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Joe was a genuinely nice guy who was congenitally unable to say no. SHREVEPORT, La. Joe Chagra ended The case has prompted Mrs. Harrelson to attempt suicide and caused her to temporarily disown her two daughters for having affairs with Harrelson during their marriage. Jimmy Chagra was granted a separate trial. ", - Jim Everette, Harrelson Center Ex-Officio Board Member, We are all different parts, but part of the same body. We mesh and balance each other., - Jerri Holliday, Executive Director, Philippians 3 Ministries, 20 North 4th St. STE 214 Wilmington, NC 28401, But the Partner benefit with the greatest impact to us and our families. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Governor of Philippine province, 5 others killed in gun attack. Without Joe Chagras testimony, Jimmy Chagra was acquitted of murder and conspiracy to murder but convicted of lesser obstruction of justice and drug charges. Jamiel Chagra was tried separately, in Jacksonville, Florida and received a sentence of 15 years and was fined $120,000 on the charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice and conspiracy to possess marijuana. Meanwhile, the drug trial was held before Woods replacement, U.S. District Judge William Sessions. ", Emilie Hart, Regional Director for the Cape Fear Chapter of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Raleigh, "As other partners joined the Center, CIS was able to connect our families to more resources.
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