Juan Alarcon, Juan Ornelas, Santiago Mesa and Andres Gonzales are tried for the crime of desertion

Criminals are brought together and transported to Durango; some people not considered necessary for transport culled; charges presented to soldiers once they arrive in prison; confessions of deserters; listings of stolen goods, crimes committed, acomplices; notice from Buena Vista town that four deserters stole three horses and carried off two women; much repetitive testimony from prisoners; notice to find Gonzales, who was left by the other three in home town of Nombre de Dios; prisoners give lack of food and clothing as reason for desertion; Gonzalez testimony that he was abducted by others found to be most honest and he not considered acomplice in desertion; Prodela named defender of Alarcon and Mesa, Uranga named for Ornelas; legal deposition of crimes, precidents in case, argues prisoners should only be given time served as they left with only cloths on their backs; judge gives six years to be served in army units, based on precident quoted by Rodriguez; eventually set free by virrey in 1820 (p. Coyle December 1989)