Aug. 21--The father of a former LAPD officer charged with killing a man outside a Pomona nightclub while off-duty will serve three years' probation for lying to FBI agents about his son's whereabouts during a massive manhunt.
In sentencing Victor Manuel Solis, 53, on Thursday, a federal judge in El Paso said he understood that then-Los Angeles police Officer Henry Solis put his father in a tough situation in March when he asked for help to flee to Mexico. But there was no excuse for being dishonest with the FBI, said U.S. District Court Judge Philip R. Martinez.
Victor Solis told FBI agents he dropped off his son near the El Paso bus station March 14, and his son crossed alone into Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Surveillance cameras at the border crossing, however, showed Victor Solis walking into Mexico alongside his fugitive son, who was wanted in a slaying the day before.
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A federal jury in June convicted Victor Solis of making false statements to the FBI.
Henry Solis, 27, is charged with murder, assault with a firearm and an allegation he discharged a handgun in the March 13 death of 23-year-old Salome Rodriguez Jr. outside a bar. Investigators said Henry Solis, who was a probationary LAPD officer at the time, fought with the man, chased him and shot him multiple times.
Henry Solis abandoned his Volkswagen Jetta not far from the club and called his father in Lancaster for help. The pair then crossed into Mexico at Paso Del Norte Port of Entry.
Shortly after Henry Solis became a fugitive, the LAPD fired him and appealed for him to surrender. After trying to hide by growing a beard and avoiding the public with relatives in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Henry Solis was arrested in May. He was returned to the U.S. and is being held in lieu of $10 million bail.
His father could have faced up to five years in prison. Instead, Victor Solis got federal probation that requires supervision and regular reporting. Martinez on Thursday refused a request from him for unsupervised probation. Victor Solis had said he needed to be able to travel as a truck driver.
