ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The case against Vergilio Aguilar-Mendez, an 18-year-old migrant accused of manslaughter in the death of a St. Johns County deputy, has been dismissed. According to the State Attorney’s Office, the decision comes “following recent expert testimony regarding the defendant’s inability to understand the English language, his cultural background and concerns about his intellectual capacity have raised significant issues to consider in the case.” “Furthermore, based on the court’s recent ruling that the defendant was incompetent to proceed based on that expert testimony, dismissal of the charges was appropriate. Arrest and time served are sufficient,” the State…

Yakima, Washington – United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref announced today that Bree R. Black Horse has joined her office as an Assistant United States Attorney dedicated to prosecuting cases involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), in connection with the Justice Department’s MMIP regional program. AUSA Black Horse will work out of our Yakima Office, but she will serve throughout the Northwest Region – including in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and California. AUSA Black Horse is an enrolled member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, AUSA Black Horse worked in the Native…