Ask Another Mexican

While Houston rapper Carlos Coy, aka South Park Mexican, sits in a Texas Department of Corrections prison serving a 45-year sentence for the sexual assault of a nine-year-old girl, his family and friends are mounting a Free SPM campaign. The charges are bogus, they say. The accuser was just out to get SPM's money, they insist. Actually, that would be accusers, plural. A total of eight girls and young women, the youngest nine years old, have accused SPM of having sexual contact with them while they were underage.

Producer Pete "Dirty Werk" Camarillo shows off his Free SPM shirt at the recent Texas Latin Rap Awards.

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More About

• Carlos Coy
• Carley Coy
• Jill Odom
• Criminal Sentencing and Punishment
• Sexual Offenses

Taking a page from Houston Presscontributor Gustavo Arellano's "Ask a Mexican" humor column, where readers ask Arellano to explain Hispanics, we decided to ask anotherMexican to explain SPM. There's nothing funny about SPM's situation, of course. At best he's an innocent man falsely convicted of a heinous crime. At worst he's a pedophile.

These are the facts:

In 1995, Carlos Coy and his brother Arthur Coy, Jr. launch Dope House Records, with SPM as the label's leading artist.

In 1999, while talking about his dropping out of school at the age of 17, Coy tells Houston Press contributor Craig D. Lindsey, "One more year in high school and I would've went to jail for fucking all those little young bitches."

In August 2000, Dope House records sales exceed 1.5 million units.

In July 2001, 20-year-old Jill Odom files a lawsuit against Carlos Coy asking that he be declared the legal father of her son, Jordan Dominique Odom. Odom was only 13 when she began the relationship with Coy and only 14 when she gave birth. During their relationship, Coy, in his early twenties, knew Odom was in seventh grade. Paternity tests later prove that Coy is the boy's father.

On September 1, 2001, a nine-year-old playmate of Coy's six-year-old daughter Carley spends the night at the Coy home. Sometime during the night, the girl, later called Jane Doe, says she doesn't feel well and asks to be taken home. Coy drives her home, sitting down to have menudo with her grandparents when they arrive. The girl's parents are close friends of the Coy family.

On September 25, 2001, Carlos Coy is arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault of Jane Doe, who claims Coy entered the bedroom where she was sleeping with Carley Coy and molested her, licking her vaginal area.

On March 6, 2002, the Harris County District Attorney's office files additional sexual assault charges against Coy, alleging that on February 3, Coy, who was awaiting the Jane Doe trial, and some friends picked up two 14-year-old female fans and took them to a motel in North Houston. Coy says nothing sexual took place during the visit, claiming that he napped in the hotel room alone while the rest of the group went to a local cafŽ, but one girl claims she had had sex with the rapper. Coy turns himself in on March 7 and his bond is revoked.

On May 6, 2002, Coy's trial begins. There is no physical evidence of a sexual assault presented during the trial. The prosecution's case consists almost entirely of the girl's testimony, which includes the statement that she thinks the assault might have been a dream.

On May 18, 2002, the jury deliberates for less than eight hours. They find Coy guilty.

On May 30, 2002, with his possible punishment ranging from probation to life in prison, Carlos Coy is sentenced to 45 years in prison and fined $10,000. Coy will be at least 52 years old before he's considered for parole. After the sentencing, Harris County prosecutors Denise Oncken and Lisa Andrews tell reporters they would have preferred a longer sentence.

On September 4, 2002, Mary Doe, on behalf of Jane Doe, a minor, files a civil suit against Coy seeking monetary damages.

On October 3, 2006, Dope House Records releases South Park Mexican's tenth CD, When Devils Strike. Reaction ranges from outrage by victims' advocates to joy from some of his fans.

Those are the facts. Here is one man's opinion:

Pete "Dirty Werk" Camarillo, a producer for Dope House Records says, "Basically...the evidence wasn't really too strong in his case. That's why we're starting...the Free SPM campaign. We...want...to let everybody know that we have total faith and total belief in [him].

"We think it was basically a witch hunt. They didn't really like seeing a Mexican in his type of position, so I think they tried to do what they could to slow him down, but you know this record [When Devils Strike] coming out is just proof that you can't stop what the people want, and you can't change the beliefs of people despite what type of propaganda...gets put out.

"We're just sticking by him and doing what we can. That had a lot to do with this record, just letting everyone know the truth. If you want to hear from the man's mouth, then we're suggesting that everyone go pick up the record and see what it's about. It's not promotional hype, it's not done just to make a buck. It's actually a message that's being sent out there for the greater good of what we believe in."

And here's another man's opinion:

Rapper and longtime SPM associate Juan Gotti says, "That's not my friend, that's my brother. People are tripping out because they're saying, 'He recorded [the CD] in jail!' Now, if you pay close attention to the album, you'll find out that not only does he speak like he's behind bars, I also, myself, speak like I'm in a unit, right there with him. That's premeditated. We recorded this two years ago when everything started. So, people are thinking, 'Oh my God, he's recording in jail, he's recording in jail!' Keep thinking that. It's selling albums, thank you."