2 suspected illegals in traffic court

12/30/2006

Perrysburg Municipal Court Magistrate James Schaller yesterday sentenced two men believed to be illegal immigrants to 90 days in jail for traffic violations and then suspended their sentences.

Miguel Martinez, 27, and Ricardo Delatorre-Covian, 27, both pleaded guilty to driving without valid operator's licenses.

Mr. Delatorre-Covian also pleaded guilty to a charge of failure to stop, while the same charge was dropped against Mr. Martinez.

The two men were stopped by Rossford police Thursday morning when police said each was observed running a stop sign at Buck and Lime City roads.

The men were working at the construction site of the new Penta Career Center for Quality Roofing, an Ann Arborbased company.

While they were being interviewed, Rossford police Sgt. Brian Cranny said, Mr. Delatorre-Covian told police that the two men were from Mexico and in this country illegally.

Both men will continue to be held at the Wood County jail until they can be interviewed by the federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

That might not take place until next week.

A bureau spokesman said Mr. Delatorre-Covian and Mr. Martinez would likely be arrested, processed, interviewed, and scheduled for deportation hearings.