Figure in Camarena Case Balks at Entering Plea
A Honduran serving a life prison sentence on a drug-trafficking conviction refused Monday to enter a plea on charges stemming from the 1985 murder of a U.S. narcotics agent.
Juan Ramon Matta Ballesteros, 45, whose 1988 arrest in Honduras sparked bloody anti-American rioting, has long been linked to the torture-slaying of Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Enrique Camarena but was indicted in the killing only last week.
Matta refused to enter a plea to the charges, claiming the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles has no jurisdiction over him because he was “kidnaped” from his home in Honduras and “tortured” with stun guns during interrogation by U.S. authorities.
Judge Edward Rafeedie entered a not-guilty plea on Matta’s behalf to the five charges against him.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
