SLAIN GIRL'S FATHER FACES COCAINE TRIAL

A federal indictment released Friday charged Joey Villarreal, the
father of a teenage girl killed last month by federal agents, with
trafficking in cocaine. Villarreal was charged alongside five others.

Without revealing details about the investigation, the federal
indictment asserts in one paragraph that the six conspired to
distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine starting in November
2001.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents were looking for Villarreal
shortly before midnight Feb. 9 when they confronted a dark car leaving
his family's home.

The confrontation ended with the driver, Ashley Villarreal, shot in
the head. The 14-year-old died two days later.

If convicted, Joey Villarreal, 37, and the others face a potential
minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison.

Another defendant, Roger "Rocky" Hernandez, 25, was already in custody
and facing federal weapons and methamphetamine charges, to which he
has pleaded not guilty.

Rodney Rios, 32, of Mico, also was charged. The other three have not
been arrested.