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Jose Luis Merino Hernandez, also known as “Jose Mendez” has been sentenced to seven months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after being deported. Merino Hernandez is a citizen of Mexico last known to live in Waterbury.
In January 2005, Merino Hernandez was removed from the country back to Mexico after he was convicted of crimes in New York. He illegally reentered the U.S. and was encountered by ICE while he was incarcerated in November 2010. He was again removed back to Mexico the following year.
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents again encountered Merino Hernandez three times in May and June 2011 in Arizona. After the third encounter, he was charged with illegal reentry, was convicted, served 120 days in prison and was deported in October that year.
On June 9 last year, Merino Hernandez was arrested in Waterbury and charged with four counts of risk of injury to a minor, one count of resisting arrest, one count of breach of peace and one count of assault. He has been detained since his arrest. On Sept. 10 last year, Merino Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of reckless endangerment and he was sentenced to 11 months in prison, followed by three years of probation.
Merino Hernandez, 50, pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court on Nov. 19 last year. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that Merino Hernandez will be deported when he completes his federal prison sentence.
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