From Staff Reports

Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller’s decision to release from jail 26-year-old Marvin Orlando Ramirez Torres — without notifying federal immigration officials — endangered the community and Torres’ child victim, according to Andrew Murray, U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Murray, who is a Republican, called an Oct. 30 press conference at Asheville’s federal courthouse, just hours after Miller’s office announced the release of Torres.

After more than two years in the Buncombe jail, Torres was convicted Oct. 28 of taking indecent liberties with a minor, for which he was sentenced to 16-29 months for the felony. However, he received credit for time served by county Superior Court Judge Alan Thornburg, prompting Torres’ release the next day.

However, Murray noted that the release came despite a detainer request sent by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while Torres was in custody, along with concerns raised by Buncombe District Attorney Todd Williams (a Democrat), who, Murray said, called him after the verdict in an effort to prevent Torres’ release.

Miller, a Democrat who was elected in November 2018, stated in February that he will not honor ICE detainers. The sheriff has said that detainer requests are not valid warrants and that “we do not make or enforce immigration laws.”