McALLEN, Texas-
Jurors began deliberations Monday in the trial of a bus company and its owner who are accused of mismanaging the fleet before an explosion last year that killed 23 passengers during the Hurricane Rita evacuation.
The jury was set to return Tuesday to continue deliberations in the trial of James Maples, 67, and his company, Global Limo Inc. They are accused in a three-count federal indictment of conspiring to falsify driver time records and failing to inspect buses to ensure their safety.
If convicted, Maples faces up to five years in prison and he and the company face more than $750,000 in fines.
Maples is not charged with the Sept. 23, 2005, accident involving one of his buses, which caught fire during the Hurricane Rita evacuation, killing 23 nursing home residents.
U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa has forbidden prosecutors from mentioning the accident, saying it fell outside the scope of the charges and would prejudice the jury.
“James Maples didn’t care about keeping these vehicle inspection reports,” Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kinchen said in closing arguments. “James Maples cared about keeping the wheels rolling.”
Kinchen said driver Juan Robles–a former illegal immigrant who was the driver of the bus that exploded and was cleared of charges in return for cooperating with the prosecution–was the type of driver Maples used to forward the conspiracy.
“Someone who would drive 31 and a half hours and not complain because he couldn’t,” Kinchen said.
Defense attorney Charles Banker said the fact that Robles has been given a Social Security card and work visa since the accident shows he has motivation to lie for the government.
“Mr. Robles is lying to you, ladies and gentlemen,” Banker said. “He’s poking out your eyes because he has an interest in lying.”
The prosecution alleged that Maples compelled drivers to enter time when they were on the bus but not driving as “off duty.” But driver Salvador Avalos testified Maples told him to use the correct “on duty, not driving” designation when Avalos slept on a bus seat during Hurricane Katrina evacuations.
Victims and relatives of victims in May reached an $11 million settlement with both Global and BusBank, the travel broker that hired it.
Maples, a former professional football player, has appeared mostly upbeat during the trial, sitting with his lawyer, family and friends in the spectator section.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
