Brother of accused Athens killer has his own first day in court

The brother of the man charged with the homicide in Athens of a nursing student had his own day in federal court Monday on felony charges stemming from what authorities say is a fake U.S. permanent resident card. 

The hearing in Macon’s Bootle Federal Courthouse was the first appearance for Diego Ibarra, 29, on those charges.  

Ibarra was stopped by Athens-Clarke County Police because he matched the physical description of the person sought for the killing of student Laken Riley. Ibarra’s brother, Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was later arrested on murder charges stemming from the death. Ibarra is said to have proffered a fake document often called a green card when asked to produce ID. 

Ibarra entered the courtroom Monday in shackles and a set of orange Butts County jail coveralls. Some of the hair bleached blonde on top of his head had been dyed back to a shade of teal. 

After the hearing began, aside from subtle nodding, he was near motionless as he listened to a translator repeat the charges against him as well as his rights in the face of those charges as they were presented by Judge Charles Weigle. 

“I want to remind you of your right to remain silent,” Weigle said. “That means you don’t have to answer any questions about your case.”

Weigle also told Ibarra that he has a right to ask for an official from the federal government to tell a consular official from Venezuela about his arrest. 

That was where the hearing ended. Calendar conflicts between attorneys delayed the hearing about how and where Ibarra would be detained over the longer term until Thursday. 

Ibarra’s attorney from the federal defender’s office Chauntilia Adaway said she didn’t know where Ibarra is being held until then. Butts County is not one of the handful of counties who proactively work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, in detaining immigrants, but US Marshals often ask county jails to hold federal defendants, too. 

A Georgia bill inspired by Laken Riley’s killing would force all Georgia counties into similar collaborations with ICE.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Diego Ibarra was earmarked for speedy removal from the country upon arrival at the border almost a year ago, but was released from custody by immigration officials after presenting them with what they termed  “a credible fear” of returning to his native Venezuela. Adjudication of that claim was planned for a later date.

Since then, Ibarra has been arrested three times by Athens law enforcement. The charges include DUI, driving without a license, shoplifting and failure to appear in court for a fingerprintable offense. 

If he is found guilty of possessing a fake permanent resident card, Ibarra could face up to 10 years in prison.