Suspect in deadly Texas immigrant truck incident has criminal history in Colorado

DENVER – The truck driver charged with having nearly 100 undocumented immigrants—10 of whom died—inside a sweltering truck inside a Texas parking lot, also has a criminal past in Colorado.

James Bradley, 60, faces federal charges for transporting people he knew were in the country illegally, and could face an unending prison term or death if convicted.

But Denver7 Investigates has learned that Bradley had a spotted history of criminal behavior in Colorado as well.

In 1996, Bradley was arrested in Aurora for felony menacing with a deadly weapon when he allegedly threatened to kill his wife and pointed a gun at her. He later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was sentenced to two years of probation, though he violated that several times and ended up back in jail.

And in 2003, he was charged with escaping from a felony conviction, and was arrested in December 2004 in Florida on a fugitive warrant out of Colorado, as well as on a grand theft auto charge, though Florida court records don’t indicate how that case was resolved.

Bradley appeared in federal court Monday and told the judge he was unaware of his human cargo, and only noticed they were there when he stopped at the San Antonio Walmart.