BY MIKE CETERA
You have to imagine police and prosecutors would have been pretty nervous had a jury found Angel "Doc" Luciano not guilty of murder. After all, they had already lost one of the cold-case trials to an acquittal. But Luciano, the reputed head of Aurora's Latin Kings, was found guilty Thursday by a jury.
What made this case different from the prosecution of George Torres?
Both men had the same defense attorney; both cases relied mostly on witness testimony (from imprisoned gang members who had incentive to cooperate with authorities) rather than physical evidence; both were in front of a jury.
Could Luciano's rank in the gang have played any role in the jury's decision? Could jurors have decided -- even if there's no gun or fingerprints tying this guy to the crime -- that Luciano is a bad guy because he leads the gang and should be punished regardless of whether the evidence was strong enough to convict? Or, were the witnesses simply more believable this time around, and the prosecutors more prepared to counter defense claims that these "informants" were just looking to get out of prison sooner?
A side note: Apologies to people who were looking to post on this trial earlier. I've posted your comments below:
Well, they just found DOC guilty. And since they found him guilty, I am sure it will not be too hard to find his son guilty. How can these people sleep at night? I mean having all of these things in their closet? Always having to look over their shoulder? What kind of life is that? I am not judging, I really don't know that lifestyle - it is just a quesiton. I would hate to have to live that way. We all have choices though, and we have to live with the choices with make.
Posted by: EAHS | December 7, 2007 12:11 PM
JUDGMENT DAY HAS ARRIVED!!!!!!!!!! MANY THANKS TO THE AURORA POLICE DEPT, THE KANE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE, AND THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. MY SINCERE GRATITUDE IS BESTOWED UPON ALL OF YOU, WHO, MADE THIS POSSIBLE. ( THANKS ALOT BILL AND MOO )
Posted by: MANUEL ARCE JR. ( WILLIE ARCE's BIG BROTHER ) | December 7, 2007 04:10 PM
Manuel Arce-Thank the lieing snitches not APD and Myra Arce didn't you date a lot of these men...particularly 1 of the informants!! Judgement Day will not arrive until we come before God and God alnoe....not a jury!!! Doc will appeal and best of luck to him, his wife Nancy and the rest of his family, you are in our prayers.
What does Myra dating one of the men have to do with Doc and his son killing her brother! You are ignorant! You must be a hoodrat to even think that is relevent to the murder case!
exactly......what did that nasty lieing ***** have to say during the trial but lie about everything!!!!!!! they did my DAD wrong yeah, my dad angel luciano........ he has changed his life starting back when he was locked up the first time around........ he now has a business, wife, & 2 kids @home to care for as young as 3 yrs.old how could anyone take away a father like that and grandfather to over 15!!! he will return to us....and as for the other guys their freedom will be returned too
Well maybe he shouldn't have been taking what was not his, then after he did he should of taken what he had coming... maybe he would still be alive! Obviously you must be the hoodrat or once was since you brought it up. My point was I am sick of people thanking the APD when they didn't solve these case. The ones that made these cases were the cowards that got caught for their crimes then decided to make up lies to get off the hook. Lets keep it real!!
Sounds like your Father yes "Doc" had it coming too. It doesn't matter how much time has gone by nor what he's doing now. Willie never had the chance to live past 20yrs old, get married, have children of his own, or ever become a grandfather. You still have to own up and pay for ordering to take someone else's life away. You too would want justice for a loved one lost to violence. You would want that person to pay and due the time!! It just hurts you to hear the facts that your family could be capable of such graphic violence and be so cold about it. I can only pray for you too because your full of hate and rage just like your father. May god have mercy on whatever is left of your soul.
I'm sure Doc found God too. Yhea right! I guess the only people lying here are all the informants. Oh no, the saint(Doc), would never lie to save his a**. And no one deserves to die over drug money.
Is this the sign of an innocent man, when one of his supporters(TIB)writes, "Well maybe he shouldn't have been taking what was not his, then after he did he should of taken what he had coming... maybe he would still be alive!". May God save your soul.
Boo Hoo, First and Formost, Is Guilty, Found Guilty, Second of all lying is lying but the TRUTH Prevailed, I understand that you probaly don't understand what that means so I'll put it in simple terms, Willie did somthing wrong and paid the price, now, Angel "DOC" Luciano did somthing and he's paying the price. Regardless of how the Information came forward or was gathered, The TRUTH Prevailed. P.S. To TIB PLEASE Learn how to spell check your posts, your IGNORANCE shines through.
Face it HOODRAT...your dad (Doc)MURDER Arce!!! He's going down, He'll pay sooner or later.
The whole truth did not prevail. First and foremost, words on the street to the court room quickly change, especially after 18 years. These guys had no other agenda except to get a break. Angel is not a saint, but neither was Willie nor anyone else for that matter. IT WAS NOT GANG RELATED. Some people in his family should ask themselves, what was really going on at home besides him supposedly "getting out". Eventually the REAL TRUTH will prevail. It's a shame the jury found him guilty of basically being a gang member and alleged leader. Gossip can now officially send you to prison. BUT it will not last for long.
Guilty or innocent...doesn't really matter to me as long as another gangster is locked up! I'm sure if he isn't guilty of this one there's plenty more he did get away with. It doesn't take a genius to know that your sins will find you out. If you don't pay in this life you pay in the next! I wish the government would just round up all gang members and give them weapons and let them destroy each other instead of leaving them on the streets to do their thing to innocent victims!!! GOOD JOB APD!!!!
"how could anyone take away a father like that and grandfather to over 15!!!" Maybe you should sit down and ask your dad what it is like to take another human life? What it is like to feel so powerful that with just an order, he can wipe someone out forever? Then maybe you will understand why he has to go away and serve some time. Away from you and his grandkids and his business and his home and his wife. The upside is, he will still be able to talk to you, see how you grow up, see what becomes of you. Willie and others will never have that chance, your dad made sure of that. It is harsh, and you may not want to think of your dad that way - a child should want to look up to their parents and be proud. I feel bad that you had to be born into such a sad, unfortunate lifestyle.
Willie and others chose that lifestyle just as much as this man did. They are ALL "guilty" of getting into the gang life. They all had plenty of chances to change and didn't take it. And yes, he will get visits, hugs and see what his family is doing NO MATTER WHAT. And WE ARE PROUD OF HIM that despite others prejudices, hating, gossip and narrow mindedness, he accomplished much positive and continues to do so. God says: "It will be worth it" Romans 8:28
Not surprised - read your own comments.....
"after 18 years" .....
"Eventually the REAL TRUTH will prevail"
dang, if it hasn't prevailed by now, 18 years later, then when?
It will be worth it? Worth what? I am sure there were better bible quotes that that to fit this situation.
Doc is guilty, that much has been proven, let us stop pointing fingers, with this he said, she said stuff. Your father DOC committed a crime years ago and now he must pay for his actions. I'm sorry that you feel that he has found GOD, when all he found was a GUILTY VERDICT. Now, when it comes to Albert Gonzales case, what is he going to say then, that he's the POPE, oh no, he would'nt lie, would he!!!!!!!!!!
No matter what or who he has found is not of concern to you. The guilty verdict stamp didn't come from GOD. We never said he found GOD, HE has always been with him and always will be. NO MATTER WHAT OR WHERE.
You gotta love it....now we want to use God in everything right? So was he playing GOD when he took someone else's life? Was god by his side selling drugs and leading gang bangers down a dark path? But now that it directly impacts him, God this and God that. And now only God can judge and stamp him. But Willie needed only Docs stamp right? Not Gods.....
GOD said THOU SHALL NOT KILL - did we forget that one?
There is so much hatred in these messages. Bottom line, people need to stop. Parents need to keep better eyes on their children. These young men wouldn't turn to gangs if they had better role models at home. Yes, I said it; better role models at home. Where were the parents of all these gang member? Unfortunately, when a young man goes to prison, he must choose a gang in order to survive behind the bars. And when he is released, the membership follows him to the outside world. Not one gang member is innocent. Each one has done something, including Willie Arce. The only difference, Willie isn't here to pay for the crimes he committed. Has anyone stopped to think about that? Probably not!! I'm not saying that my father; yes, my father, is innocent nor am I saying his guilty. If he is guilty, then he will serve his time. Much of the problem I'm having here is the fact that most of people in Aurora are coming down on my father's children and grandchildren. We are looked upon as if we did something wrong. Harsh words and looks are thrown at us. For many of you, the hatred is towards my father. Leave the rest of his family alone and perhaps, we wouldn't have hatred towards you. To my brothers, sisters, step-mother and the rest of the family; each one of you stand tall, hold your head up and be proud of who you are. We are Lucianos. Don't let the hatred of others bring you down.
ok - I actually have to give you some props for putting it so well at the end of your post. I am in no way saying Willie was innocent or any other person that chooses to sign up for gang life. Don't take it that way. What I am saying is that someone is being held liable and is paying for what the outcome was. No one has the right to look down on you (or your 'innocent' sisters and brothers) for being a product of your father's decisions or crimes in life, unless you have chosen to follow in his footsteps. Hopefully you were able to over come the lifestyle you have seen and can hold your head up high. Hopefully you will be able to set an example for your younger siblings and your neices and nephews and say hey, crime doesn't pay...and it all gets paid here my friend, not in the after life. Through financial hardships, severe sickness, suffering, prison, whatever, you will pay for your sins on this earth as well as the next.
I went to East Aurora with most of these guys that are either being charged or were killed. I do not know your family personally, and have nothing against you. I do give you credit for your words though.
FORGET ALL THE HATERS; NONE OF YOU KNOW WHO HE IS OR WHO HE WAS....HE KNOWS HIS TRUE FAMILY & FRIENDS ARE THERE FOR HIM NO MATTER WHAT...HE'S OUR DAD, A HUSBAND, UNCLE, COUSIN, AND FRIEND TO MANY!!! SO ALL OF YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU PLEASE BUT, WHEN THE TRUTH SETS HIM FREE, WHAT ARE YOU GOING SAY THEN...FOR NOW WE STAND BY HIS SIDE, LOVE YOU DAD!!!
It is crazy how everyone is going after each other like you are in war. For Myra I always wished you and your family well but going after the Luciano family is not going to make your heart cure. All this drama is just bringing up old memories. I knew your brother and I know Doc and all I can say is everyone has there judgemnet day. I have lost my brother to all this drama as well. And I feel pain but there is nothing I can do. For the Luciano family in time everything will unvail. As more of these guys go to court the truth will begin to come out. You dont have to prove anything to anyone. Keep your head up high dont let no one break you down. You are not your fathers Maker nor Keeper you are just his Believers. Do what you think is right. God bless to all the victims Family & Friends. Bianca keep your head up.