Nifonged in Nicaragua: Volz 'wrongly convicted' -- Doolittle

From today's Tahoe Daily Tribune:

Rep. John Doolittle took a moment from discussing his own circumstances Friday to talk about a recent State Department briefing on former South Lake Tahoe resident Eric Volz.

On Feb. 21, Volz was sentenced to 30 years in jail for the daylight rape and murder of ex-girlfriend Doris Jimenez in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, on Nov. 21, 2006. "I think there are a number of facts indicating that he was wrongly convicted," said Doolittle, R-Roseville.

The Congressman expressed concerns over the validity of the trial and the daily dangers now facing Volz in the maximum-security prison where he is being held outside of Managua, Nicaragua's capital.

"I'm satisfied that there is a decent opportunity for justice to still be done here," said Doolittle. "It's remarkable how fast things happen there. This is to Eric's advantage."

Volz's case was forwarded to a Nicaraguan appellate court on April 17 and a verdict is expected sometime this week, according to an e-mail from Volz's business partner Shawn Harstad.