The Latest: Border activist ends testimony in federal trial
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The Latest on the second trial of a border activist accused of harboring immigrants (all times local):
4:55 p.m.
An Arizona border activist charged with harboring immigrants wrapped up testifying in his second trial.
Scott Warren spent most of Tuesday on the stand as his trial came close to an end. He’s a member of a humanitarian aid group and denied federal allegations that he helped hide two Central American men who sneaked across the border and gave them instructions on how to evade authorities.
Warren said his role as a humanitarian is to be neutral and try to save lives, and that doing anything further violates his group’s policies.
He faces two federal counts of harboring migrants. It comes after a jury in June deadlocked on charges, leading to a mistrial.
Prosecutors are hoping to bring another witness to the stand Wednesday but could also go straight to closing arguments.
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12:55 p.m.
An Arizona border activist is testifying in his second trial on charges of harboring immigrants, saying he is guided by neutrality and the desire to save lives.
Scott Warren is a member of a humanitarian aid group that leaves water in the desert and searches for missing migrants. A jury deadlocked on charges earlier this year, and prosecutors decided to try him again.
The 37-year-old told jurors Tuesday how he embraced humanitarian work after moving to Ajo, Arizona, for graduate school research, several years before his January 2018 arrest.
Prosecutors say Warren was harboring two men who sneaked across the U.S.-Mexico border and that he instructed them on how to avoid Border Patrol agents.
Warren says he would never give directions but would help orient someone.
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6 a.m.
An Arizona border activist is scheduled to testify Tuesday in the second criminal case against his actions as a member of a humanitarian aid group.
Prosecutors say 37-year-old Scott Warren was arrested in early 2018 after harboring two men who sneaked across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Warren says he was being a good Samaritan and helping the injured men after they crossed the desert. Warren is a longtime volunteer with a group that drops off water in the desert and searches for dead or missing migrants.
The federal judge overseeing the case banned Warren from mentioning President Donald Trump at the request of prosecutors last week. Warren and his supporters say the Trump administration targeted border aid groups.
The first trial against Warren ended with a deadlocked jury in June.
