Letters Lash Out At Aragon: Maximum Penalty Urged After Calls for Leniency

"He should be required to pay back every penny he stole from the people of New Mexico, and pay the maximum amount of fines," wrote South Valley resident Irma Sanchez Lowrey.

"He has admitted to lying and embezzling money from the residents of the great state of New Mexico. ... I fear that if you do not order him to pay back the maximum amount of restitution and fines, it will send the wrong message that you are somehow condoning his behavior."

Letters and e-mails have been pouring into the court since Aragon-support letters from the archbishop of Santa Fe, the current Senate president and other prominent figures in law, politics and sports were made public last week. The letters are posted on the court's Web site and electronically filed in Aragon's court case. The writers urged the court to consider Aragon's achievements during 30 years in the Legislature.

Aragon, who pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to skim $4.2 million from the Metro courthouse construction, submitted his own letter expressing remorse and explaining his actions, saying he fell into the crime when he became depressed after losing the Senate leadership position in 2001.

U.S. District Judge William P. "Chip" Johnson has no discretion on the amount of prison time -- Aragon agreed to five years and seven months in the deal he struck with prosecutors -- but Johnson will decide the amount of restitution and fines to be paid.

The 9 a.m. March 17 sentencing hearing has been moved to the federal court's largest courtroom, on the third floor. Engineer Raul Parra will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. that day for his role in the same conspiracy.

The latest writers weighing in are not so forgiving as Aragon's supporters.

"I think it is about time that we ensure that all those who serve us in their political offices perform their duties with respect for the law and respect for those they serve," wrote Joan J. Scutz of Santa Fe . "Electing people who then ignore this privilege for their own benefit is a violation of the trust we give them."

Angela Webb of Albuquerque, calling herself "just a common citizen," noted that many people have faced terrible adversity in life while continuing to be honest.

"Because Senator Aragon's ego was bruised by his loss of his leadership position in the Senate, he decided what -- to get even by not only stealing from his fellow citizens, but helping others to do the same."

Dr. Thomas P. Martin wrote that society "must be able to trust its government or a society cannot function," and noted that Dante, in "The Divine Comedy," reserved the bottom rung of hell for "such individuals.

Another writer observed that the courthouse scandal was only the latest of three scandals during Aragon's time in office.

"Just as a bystander watching Mr. Aragon get involved with one dubious activity after another, I feel that he really needs NOT to be given special treatment for a change," wrote Sarah Velody of Santa Fe.

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