Two Texans among those pardoned by President Bush

DENTON- A 70-year-old North Texas man who owned his own tiling business and said he has never contributed money to President Bush was one of 15 people Tuesday to receive a presidential pardon. Two of the 15 live in Texas.

Carl Harry Hachmeister, of Denton, said he found out Monday when a caller from the Department of Justice informed him of the pardon.

"You get in trouble once," he said. "Everybody makes mistakes and I made a mistake and I paid for it."

Hachmeister was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud in Utah and sentenced in January 1985 to three years probation. He was also ordered to pay $39,330 in restitution.

Hachmeister said he owned his own business tiling floors in homes and businesses but is retired. He declined to explain his conviction, calling it "a long, drawn-out thing."

Also pardoned was Mariano Garza Caballero of Brownsville. He was sentenced in 1984 to 34 days in prison and four years probation for dealing in firearms without a license.

The Associated Press could not locate a working phone number for Caballero.

With less than 10 months left in office, Bush has granted 157 pardons. That's less than half as many as Presidents Clinton or Reagan issued during their two terms.