9/28/2010
Nebraska – Raymond Mata, Jr., a 37 years old, who was convicted in 2000 for the kidnapping and murder of 3-year-old Adam Gomez in 1999, is asking for an attorney since he is currently on death row.
It can be recalled that in 1999, the body of Adam Gomez was found at the home of Mata. Some of the boy’s parts were found in the freezer, and some were in the dog bowl too. In the stomach of Mata’s dog, bone fragments were also found.
Mata was sentenced to die by lethal injection. Mata has filed numerous appeals. He appealed to the Supreme Court four times. His appeal commuting his sentence into life imprisonment was also not considered.
Presently, Mata appealed and argued that because he was an indigent and on death row, he is entitled to an attorney, duly appointed by the court. He seeks to question the ruling made in his 2000 conviction and would also like to raise some constitutional issues as well.
The Nebraska Postconviction Act gave the authority to District Courts to decide on matters concerning the appointment of a counsel.
Mata’s present appeal for a post-conviction relief will be up to the District Courts, whether to grant him a court-appointed counsel or not.
