By BitcoDavid
Attorneys Reginald Garcia, left, and Pat Bliss speak to the Florida Commission on Offender Review on behave of Felix Garcia on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, in Tallahassee, Fla. Garcia, a deaf Florida man who supporters say was framed for murder by his brother has a chance to get out of prison. Garcia is serving a life sentence for the murder of Joseph Tramontana Jr. during a 1981 Tampa robbery. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon) Courtesy Mail Online.com
I am deeply saddened to report that Felix Garcia was denied parole. Attorney Reggie Garcia has provided the following for media dissemination:
1. the parole commissioners will review the case again in three years (it could have been 5 – 7)
2. They referred Felix to Sumter C.I. in Bushnell, Florida. for special programming. (This is a Deaf friendly facility.)
3. They reduced by 12 months his Presumptive parole release date.
Attorney Garcia called it is a small victory, and said he will continue to work tirelessly on Felix’s behalf.
Prosecuting attorney Mark Ober speaks to the Florida Commission on Offender Review concerning inmate Felix Garcia on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, in Tallahassee, Fla. Garcia, a deaf Florida man who supporters say was framed for murder by his brother has a chance to get out of prison. Garcia is serving a life sentence for the murder of Joseph Tramontana Jr. during a 1981 Tampa robbery. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)
From the Mail Online coverage:
“He is totally innocent,” lawyer Reggie Garcia, who isn’t related to the brothers, said. “Felix Garcia has an alibi before, during and after the murder.”
The board decided Wednesday to move up Garcia’s potential parole date by one year, to 2025. He will get another hearing in three years. They did not move up the date for brother Frank Garcia, serving a 99-year sentence with a potential 2026 release date. His case will be reheard in seven years.
The third brother, Mike Garcia, and sister Tina Daniels spoke only in the proceeding for Frank Garcia.
“You know your family members — when they’re telling the truth and when they’re not telling you the truth,” Mike Garcia said. “People can bull crap, I understand that. People are con artists, I understand that. I know my brother Frank. I know my brother Felix. I know Francisco Garcia did not pull that trigger.”
A commission member asked if that meant Felix participated. “Yes. Yes, they were both there at that time,” Mike Garcia answered.
After the hearing, he told reporters that he believed Felix is the person who killed Joseph Tramontana Jr.
“That’s what I’ve heard over the years. I wasn’t there,” he said. “I know my brothers, and that’s it. ”
It’s a vastly different story than lawyers presented. They said Felix Garcia had two witnesses placing him six miles away from the motel where the murder happened. Frank Garcia; his sister, Tina; and her boyfriend, Ray Stanley participated in the crime and framed Felix, the lawyers said. They say Frank Garcia gave Felix the victim’s ring to sell, and the pawn shop slip tied him to the crime.
Neither the sister nor Stanley was charged, and Stanley has since died.
Frank Garcia later admitted Felix wasn’t involved in the murder, the lawyers also said.
But prosecutor Mark Ober said the affidavit Frank Garcia signed on behalf of Felix was part of a plot to get his brother out so he could sue the state and then help seek Frank’s release.
After the hearing, Pat Bliss — who has fought 18-years on Felix’ behalf — approached Garcia’s siblings and said she was shocked they didn’t speak for Felix, too. “He never asked us,” Daniels said.
“He feels like he’s been deserted by his family,” Bliss said.
Attorneys Pat Bliss, right, and Reginald Gracia speak to the Florida Commission on Offender Review on behave of Felix Garcia on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, in Tallahassee, Fla. Garcia, a deaf Florida man who supporters say was framed for murder by his brother has a chance to get out of prison. Garcia is serving a life sentence for the murder of Joseph Tramontana Jr. during a 1981 Tampa robbery. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)
I find it immensely disturbing that the only coverage this story is getting is from a British news source. From what I can gather – and I could be wrong – no American papers have covered this story. I also am somewhat discouraged that I had to track down this information, and that very little of it was provided for me, by my own sources, close to the story. I do however, want to thank Porsche Haynes of Sachs Media Group for providing me with what little information she was given.
BitcoDavid is a blogger and a blog site consultant. In former lives, he was an audio engineer, a videographer, a teacher – even a cab driver. He is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and a Pro/Am boxer. He has spent years working with diet and exercise to combat obesity and obesity related illness.
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