Records request: The Pima County Attorney’s Office doesn’t want to release grand jury transcripts in the case of Tucson police officer Ryan Remington, who fatally shot a man in a wheelchair during a shoplifting incident in 2021, the Tucson Sentinel’s Paul Ingram reports. Those records are normally kept secret under Arizona law and county prosecutors said there is no reason to bypass that in this case, but Remington’s lawyers say they need them. A judge said defense lawyers can see the documents, but can’t make them public. The county attorney’s office has asked that nobody get the records until it appeals the decision. (October 18, 2023)
No charges coming: The Pima County Attorney’s Office will not be pursuing charges against corrections officers at the Pima County jail in connection with a man who died last August after he was repeatedly tased, the Tucson Sentinel’s Paul Ingram reports. Pima County Attorney Laura Conover said Thursday that between the multiple causes of death listed on Wade Welch’s autopsy and his “continued refusal to comply” with corrections officers, her office did not believe there was a substantial likelihood of conviction. (December 18)
More political violence: A Tucson man was sentenced to a year of probation and anger management classes for threatening Mark Finchem, a former state legislator from Oro Valley and Arizona Secretary of State candidate. The Pima County Attorney’s Office said in a news release that Ronald Keith Halverson called Finchem’s office in July 2022 and threatened to “walk up behind Finchem and cut his throat at a supermarket.” (January 26)
Case closed: A Pima County jury found Murad Dervish guilty of six felony charges, including first-degree murder, yesterday in the 2022 shooting death of UA hydrology Professor Thomas Meixner, KOLD’s J.D. Wallace reports. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before convicting Dervish of all charges, which also included burglary, aggravated assault and endangerment. The county attorney’s office issued a statement following the conviction, saying that Pima County Attorney Laura Conover will continue to bring red flag legislation back to the legislature next year and “for as long as it takes to bring home common-sense gun safety reforms.” (May 22)
Charges filed: A Pima County corrections officer has been charged with 18 misdemeanor counts of theft, after he was accused of shoplifting from the Sahuarita Walmart nearly two dozen times, the Green Valley News’ Kim Smith writes. Jose Monreal Jr.’s case has become a point of contention in the race for Pima County Attorney, with challenger Mike Jette previously saying that Monreal should be charged with a felony because of his position of authority, despite Conover saying that the $480 in items Monreal is accused of shoplifting is far below the felony threshold. During a debate last month, Conover said she believed Monreal was being “held accountable” in Sahuarita Municipal Court, but records show that charges weren’t filed against Monreal until May 13. (May 22)
Time to deliberate: The jury in the trial of a Nogales rancher, George Alan Kelly, accused of fatally shooting a Mexican man who crossed the border near his ranch has now heard arguments from prosecutors and defense attorneys, KGUN’s Craig Smith reports. Prosecutor Mike Jette (who also is running for Pima County Attorney) said the rancher’s story kept changing and wasn’t trustworthy, while defense attorney Brenna Larkin said there was no forensic evidence the bullet that killed Gabriel Cuen Buitimea came from Kelly’s gun. The bullet was never recovered. And Larkin noted Kelly was the person who notified authorities about the shooting. (April 19)