OFFICER CHARGED IN OREGON CASE WILL GO TO TRIAL

A Houston police officer charged with criminal trespass in connection with
the shooting death of Pedro Oregon Navarro will go to trial to defend
himself, his attorney said Tuesday at his first court appearance.

"He's not guilty," said attorney Brian Benken, who is representing Officer
James Willis, 28. "There will be a lot of information that will come out in
trial that will shed new light."

Benken said his client should be tried in the next few months. If convicted,
he could spend up to a year in jail. Willis has been suspended with pay
pending an internal affairs investigation.

If convicted of the misdemeanor, there is no Houston Police Department
policy that prevents Willis from staying on the force unless the internal
investigation shows he violated department rules, said John Cannon, HPD
spokesman.

Officers convicted of felonies lose their law enforcement license.

On July 12, six officers burst into Oregon's residence after receiving a tip
from an informant that drugs were being sold. The officers opened fire on
Oregon after another officer accidentally fired his weapon. Oregon was shot
12 times, including nine in the back. The officers contend that he pointed a
gun at them.

The officers did not have an arrest or search warrant, and Oregon's gun had
not been fired. No drugs were found in the apartment.

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst