GUILTY AZ - Maribel Gonzales, 13, murdered, Tucson, 3 June 2014 *Arrest*

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Pima County Attorney addresses charges in Isabel Celis, Maribel Gonzales murders

Sep 15, 2018

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KGUN 9 On Your Side
November 2, 2017 ·

Cold Case: Maribel Gonzales' body was found three days after she went missing. It was found in a desert area nearly 35 miles from her home. Carlos Herrera tells us more. Cold Case: Maribel Gonzales

(video- KGUN 9 On Your Side )
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Monday, Nov. 19th:
*Prelim Hearing (@ pm PT) – AZ – Maribel Victoria Gonzales (13) (June 4, 2014, Tucson, found June 6, 2014, id'ed June 20, 2014) & Isabel Mercedes Celis (6) (April 21, 2012, Tucson, found Mar. 3, 2017, Id’ed Mar. 31, 2017) – *Christopher Matthew Clements (36) indicted (9/15/18) & arraigned (9/24/18) with 2 counts of 1st degree murder, 2 counts of kidnapping a minor under 15, 2 counts of 2nd degree burglary, 1 count of theft by controlling stolen property, 1 count of trafficking in stolen property & 14 counts of sexual exploitation of minors. Plead not guilty. $2M cash only bond.
9/15/18 Update: Made 1st appearance on 9/15/18. Was extradited (9/23/18) from Maricopa County to Tucson where he was in jail for criminal charges for burglary, theft & fraud. Arraignment hearing on 9/24. 9/24: Plead not guilty. Next hearing on 11/19. 10/8: Clements asks for new attorney. Judge will decide who will represent him on 10/11.
10/11/18 Update: Clements was appointed 2 new attorneys. Next hearing 11/19.
11/3/18 Update: DA has until 1/24/19 to decide whether they will seek DP.
 
From Isabel's thread:

@caitlincschmidt
do you know whether Christopher Clements appeared in court yesterday on the Isabel Celis/Maribel Gonzales murder cases? Don't see any local articles about it, and I don't watch TV news.

Caitlin Schmidt
@caitlincschmidt

He did. It was a status conference and pretty uneventful, so we opted not to write it up. He has another status conference on Feb. 11 and the state has to provide notice by Jan. 24 if they intend to pursue the death penalty. [BBM]
 
Prosecutors want more time to consider death penalty in killing of Tucson girls

Jan 18, 2019

"The Pima County Attorney's Office has asked for more time to consider the death penalty in the case of a man accused of killing two Tucson girls.

Christopher Matthew Clements, 36, was arrested in September in connection with the slayings of 6-year-old Isabel Celis and 13-year-old Maribel Gonzalez....

The county attorney's office initially had until Nov. 24 to provide notice if they wished to pursue the death penalty, but requested an extension until Jan. 25.

On Monday, they asked for a second extension, requesting an additional 60 days to make a decision.

Judge Deborah Bernini granted the request Wednesday. The state now has until March 25 to provide notice...."

Prosecutors want more time to consider death penalty in killing of Tucson girls
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Monday, February 11th:
*Status Hearing (@ pm PT) – AZ – Isabel Mercedes Celis (6) (April 21, 2012, Tucson, found Mar. 3, 2017, Id’ed Mar. 31, 2017) & Maribel Victoria Gonzales (13) (June 4, 2014, Tucson, found June 6, 2014, id’ed June 20, 2014) – *Christopher Matthew Clements (36) indicted (9/15/18) & arraigned (9/24/18) with 2 counts of 1st degree murder, 2 counts of kidnapping a minor under 15, 2 counts of 2nd degree burglary, 1 count of theft by controlling stolen property, 1 count of trafficking in stolen property & 14 counts of sexual exploitation of minors. Plead not guilty. $2M cash only bond.
9/15/18 Update: Made 1st appearance on 9/15/18. Was extradited (9/23/18) from Maricopa County to Tucson where he was in jail for criminal charges for burglary, theft & fraud. Arraignment hearing on 9/24. 9/24: Plead not guilty. Next hearing on 11/19. 10/8: Clements asks for new attorney. Judge will decide who will represent him on 10/11.
10/11/18 Update: Clements was appointed 2 new attorneys. Next hearing 11/19. 11/3/18: DA has until 1/24/19 to decide whether they will seek DP. 11/19/18: Next Status hearing on 2/11. DA will provide notice by 1/24/19 if he will seek DP.
1/18/19 Update: The Pima County Attorney's Office has asked for more time to consider the death penalty. Granted by Judge. Have until 3/25/19 to provide notice.
 
Niner said:
no access.... EU rules - can someone give a 10% synopsis on this please?

TIA! :)
Click to expand...
The decision had been put off twice, but the Pima County Attorney made it official on Friday that her office would seek the death penalty.

The judge told Clements' attorneys to get in gear as far as objecting to pre-trial tests, including IQ tests, that she has ordered because "we don't take 5 years to try death penalty cases like they do in Phoenix."

She is also looking for a retired judge to serve as a master. This is because Clements kept calling one of his former lawyers at home from jail. These calls are recorded. Since the lawyer was no longer representing him, prosecution says they should have access to them. Defense disagrees. The special master would, presumably, decide what to share with prosecution.

A portion of the article:


By Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
The Pima County Attorney’s Office had filed two extensions for providing notice of its intent to pursue the death penalty, most recently on Jan. 24.

On Friday, the Attorney’s Office filed notice that it would be pursuing the death penalty, according to court records.

In court on Monday, Superior Court Judge Deborah Bernini said she would be drafting a document to address pre-screenings, which includes an IQ screen.

“We don’t take five years to try death-penalty cases here like they typically do in Phoenix,” Bernini told Clements’ lawyers...
​
 
Last edited:
Thank you azshadowwalker!
coucou.gif
 
Monday, April 15th:
*Status Hearing (@ pm PT) – AZ – Isabel Mercedes Celis (6) (April 21, 2012, Tucson, found Mar. 3, 2017, Id’ed Mar. 31, 2017) & Maribel Victoria Gonzales (13) (June 4, 2014, Tucson, found June 6, 2014, id’ed June 20, 2014) – *Christopher Matthew Clements (36) indicted (9/15/18) & arraigned (9/24/18) with 2 counts of 1st degree murder, 2 counts of kidnapping a minor under 15, 2 counts of 2nd degree burglary, 1 count of theft by controlling stolen property, 1 count of trafficking in stolen property & 14 counts of sexual exploitation of minors. Plead not guilty. $2M cash only bond. DA will seek DP.
9/15/18 Update: Made 1st appearance on 9/15/18. Was extradited (9/23/18) from Maricopa County to Tucson where he was in jail for criminal charges for burglary, theft & fraud. Arraignment hearing on 9/24. 9/24: Plead not guilty. Next hearing on 11/19. 10/8: Clements asks for new attorney. Judge will decide who will represent him on 10/11.
10/11/18 Update: Clements was appointed 2 new attorneys. Next hearing 11/19. 11/3/18: DA has until 1/24/19 to decide whether they will seek DP. 11/19/18: Next Status hearing on 2/11. DA will provide notice by 1/24/19 if he will seek DP.
1/18/19 Update: The Pima County Attorney's Office has asked for more time to consider the death penalty. Granted by Judge. Have until 3/25/19 to provide notice.
2/11/19 Update: DA will seek DP. State's motion to appoint a special master to review recordings of dozens of recorded jail phone calls between Clements & Tucson attorney John Kaufmann, who represented Clements in a 2012 case. In December 2016, Kaufmann withdrew as Clements' lawyer, but a review by Tucson Police Dept. detectives of phone numbers associated with Clements showed multiple calls to Kauffman's home. Tucson police have three such recordings, but have not yet received the other 24 from Maricopa County jail officials, Mosher said in court. Clements' lawyers objected to the motion, but Bernini granted the state's request, saying she'd approach several retired judges about acting as a special master in the case. Next hearing 4/15.
 
reposting from Isabel's thread:

Child murders: Suspect in court while parents look on

TUCSON, Ariz. - A man charged with killing two young girls -- sat in court Monday -- as the parents of those girls -- sat through the hearing.

The parents of six year old Isabel Celis and 14 year old Maribel Gonzales -- watched as prosecutors and defense attorneys argued over defense efforts -- to throw out the heart of the case against Christopher Clements.

Christopher Clements attorneys are trying to convince Judge Deborah Bernini to throw out the murder and kidnapping indictments against him.

Clements is charged in the disappearance and death of both six year old Isabel Celis and 14 year old Maribel Gonzalez.

His lawyers argue prosecutors did not share information that might cast doubt on whether Clements should be indicted at all.

Part of the defense claim is that Isabel Celis father Sergio showed suspicious behavior Grand Jurors should have had more opportunity to consider.

Sergio Celis has never been charged in the case. He and Isabel's mother Becky Celis were both in the audience for this latest hearing but showed no strong reaction to seeing the man accused of killing their daughter.

It's not in dispute that Clements led investigators to Isabel Celis remains but never explained how he knew where they were.
[...]
He's is due back in court June 14 but his actual trial is still far in the future.
 
Friday, June 14th:
*Status Hearing (@ pm PT) – AZ – Isabel Mercedes Celis (6) (April 21, 2012, Tucson, found Mar. 3, 2017, Id’ed Mar. 31, 2017) & Maribel Victoria Gonzales (13) (June 4, 2014, Tucson, found June 6, 2014, id’ed June 20, 2014) – *Christopher Matthew Clements (36) indicted (9/15/18) & arraigned (9/24/18) with 2 counts of 1st degree murder, 2 counts of kidnapping a minor under 15, 2 counts of 2nd degree burglary, 1 count of theft by controlling stolen property, 1 count of trafficking in stolen property & 14 counts of sexual exploitation of minors. Plead not guilty. $2M cash only bond. DA will seek DP.
Court hearings from 9/15/18 to 2/11/19 reference post #995 here:
AZ - Isabel Mercedes Celis, 6, Tucson, 20 April 2012 *Arrest* #26
4/15/19 Update: Defense tries to get charges of murder & kidnapping dismissed. Next hearing on 6/14.
 
The court intends to set a trial date for the man accused of killing two young girls -- 6-year-old Isabel Celis and 13-year-old Maribel Gonzalez.

Christopher Clements appeared before a Pima County Superior Court judge Monday. He showed up a little late because of a delay in his transfer from Maricopa County. They're holding him there on burglary charges.

The state plans to have its list of witnesses ready to go by August. A trial date could be set at his next court hearing in October.

Trial date to be set for man accused of killing Tucson girls
 
Friday, August 16th:
*Evidentiary Hearing (@ pm PT) – AZ – Isabel Mercedes Celis (6) (April 21, 2012, Tucson, found Mar. 3, 2017, Id’ed Mar. 31, 2017) & Maribel Victoria Gonzales (13) (June 4, 2014, Tucson, found June 6, 2014, id’ed June 20, 2014) – *Christopher Matthew Clements aka Damion James Johnson (36) indicted (9/15/18) & arraigned (9/24/18) with 2 counts of 1st degree murder, 2 counts of kidnapping a minor under 15, 2 counts of 2nd degree burglary, 1 count of theft by controlling stolen property, 1 count of trafficking in stolen property & 14 counts of sexual exploitation of minors. Plead not guilty. $2M cash only bond. DA will seek DP.
Court hearings from 9/15/18 to 2/11/19 reference post #995 here: Found Deceased - AZ - Isabel Mercedes Celis, 6, Tucson, 20 April 2012 *Arrest* #26
4/15/19 Update: Defense tries to get charges of murder & kidnapping dismissed. Next hearing on 6/14.
6/14/19 Update: For Fraud, burglary & theft next hearing on 8/16. 7/28/19: On murder/kidnapping case no further dates.
 
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