Morales-Carrera held without bond
Posted on Tuesday, July 22, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/63925/
BENTONVILLE — A Rogers man is being held without bond in the Benton County Jail on suspicion of murdering his cousin’s wife.
Sergio Morales-Carrera, 22, was arrested Friday for capital murder, a class Y felony punishable with life in prison or the death penalty.
Morales-Carrera allegedly shot and killed Veronica Robles, 37, at her home at 2606 Graham Drive, where the accused killer had also been living.
On Monday morning, Circuit Judge David Clinger found authorities had probable cause to hold Morales-Carrera on the capital-murder charge.
An immigration hold has been placed on Morales-Carrera, who is an illegal alien from Mexico, according to court documents. He cannot be released on bond as long as the immigration hold is in place.
Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Van Stone still asked that Morales-Carrera be held without bond because of the strength of the case against him. Stone also told Clinger that Morales-Carrera did not turn himself in, and police had to pull him from a vehicle at gunpoint.
Chief Public Defender Jay Saxton, who was appointed to represent Morales-Carrera, asked for bond to be set for his client, but said Morales-Carrera would not be able to post bond. Saxton said Morales-Carrera has been in the country for six years and has family in the area.
At 9: 03 p. m. July 16, Rogers police received a 911 call from 2606 Graham Drive in reference to a woman who was shot. Police officers responded to the residence and found Robles lying on the floor with multiple gunshot wounds to the head, according to court documents. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Robles’ 19-year-old son — Alex Rivera — told police he was in his room when he heard a gunshot come from inside the house, according to an affidavit of probable cause in the case. Rivera said he looked down the hallway and saw Morales-Carrera fire two more gunshots, striking his mother in the head, the affidavit states. Rivera said he chased Morales-Carrera out of the house, then returned to assist his mother, according to the affidavit.
Rivera and his sister — Mistika Rivera — told police Morales-Carrera had been living at the home for less than a month and that he is their father’s cousin.
Mistika Rivera told police she saw Morales-Carrera arrive at the house in a pickup truck, and she went out to the truck and saw a gun in a suitcase, according to court documents. She said she called the police after seeing the gun, but Morales-Carrera came out of the house and got the gun. She then saw him walk back into the house and fire the gun into a bedroom, court documents state.
Morales-Carrera then walked back to his truck and drove away, according to the probable-cause affidavit.
He was arrested July 18 in Fayetteville. Police found Morales-Carrera in the front passenger seat of a Ford Excursion that was parked in front of a residence under construction in a subdivision on Ika Street, according to court documents.
Officers approached the suspect with guns drawn, and Morales-Carrera refused to exit the vehicle and to show his hands. He appeared to be reaching into the side pocket of the front passenger door. Officers had to forcibly remove Morales-Carrera from the vehicle to place him under arrest.
Police also arrested Romero Ortiz at the scene. He was arrested for hindering apprehension or prosecution, a class B felony punishable with a prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years.
During the investigation, police learned Ortiz was harboring and assisting Morales-Carrera.
Miguel Ortiz, Romero Ortiz’s brother, told Rogers police detective Russell Allen he had dropped off Morales-Carrera at 10 p. m. July 16 near Romero Ortiz’s Springdale home, according to court documents.
Miguel Ortiz was also arrested for hindering apprehension or prosecution. He’s being held in the Washington County Jail.
Romero Ortiz is being held in the Benton County Jail in lieu of $ 100, 000 bond.