Murder suspect Mark Anthony Gonzales will go to trial June 8 on charges related to the death of Chasity Stine of Las Animas.
Sixteenth Judicial District Judge Michael Schiferl set the trial date after Gonzales entered a formal plea of not guilty during a court proceeding Monday afternoon in Las Animas.
The not guilty plea was submitted by Ray Torres, one of two attorneys defending Gonzales, who sat at the defense table in front of a crowded courtroom.
Torres noted there are 1,200 pages of grand jury testimony and 127 witnesses related to the case against his client. He said the defense still needed additional information from the prosecution so it can file an estimated 30 motions. Torres predicted the jury selection process might take a full week.
District Attorney Rodney Fouracre told Schiferl if Torres gave him a list of what information or evidence was needed he would supply it. As an example, Torres said he needed a copy of the videotape of the alleged crime scene so he could prepare motions on behalf of his client.
The defense attorney also affirmed his intention of seeking a change of venue for the case due to pretrial publicity.
After resolving various schedule conflicts, Schiferl agreed to hold a motions hearing related to the Gonzales case on Feb. 24 at 8:30 a.m.
Schiferl advised Torres to file as many motions as he could as quickly as possible.
“I want to take care of as many motions as I can the first time around,” Schiferl told the attorneys. The judged added he was not attempting to curtail motions being filed by Torres and Gail Morrison, the other defense attorney in the case.
‘I understand you may have some motions that surprise you when you begin discovery,” Schiferl told Torres.
Last month Fouracre confirmed that Gonazales had rejected some suggested plea bargains offered by the prosecution.
Torres also submitted an argument in December that Schiferl find “probable cause of termination” but the case remained in court this week. During the previous hearing, Schiferl had observed that a termination of a case can occur both before and after a formal arraignment.
The Gonzales defense team has argued in court that evidence points to someone other than their client. The prosecution has countered that they have witnesses supporting their charges.
Gonzales was arrested in Lamar last Aug. 7 on suspicion of the murder of Chasity Stine, whose body was found east of Las Animas two days after she had disappeared on a Saturday afternoon.
She left behind four children fathered by Henry Lee Isom Jr., who is a half brother of Gonzales.
Gonzales remains in custody at the Bent County Jail. Attempts to lower his bond from $250,000 to facilitate his release have been unsuccessful.
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Murder suspect Mark Anthony Gonzales will go to trial June 8 on charges related to the death of Chasity Stine of Las Animas.
Sixteenth Judicial District Judge Michael Schiferl set the trial date after Gonzales entered a formal plea of not guilty during a court proceeding Monday afternoon in Las Animas.
The not guilty plea was submitted by Ray Torres, one of two attorneys defending Gonzales, who sat at the defense table in front of a crowded courtroom.
Torres noted there are 1,200 pages of grand jury testimony and 127 witnesses related to the case against his client. He said the defense still needed additional information from the prosecution so it can file an estimated 30 motions. Torres predicted the jury selection process might take a full week.
District Attorney Rodney Fouracre told Schiferl if Torres gave him a list of what information or evidence was needed he would supply it. As an example, Torres said he needed a copy of the videotape of the alleged crime scene so he could prepare motions on behalf of his client.
The defense attorney also affirmed his intention of seeking a change of venue for the case due to pretrial publicity.
After resolving various schedule conflicts, Schiferl agreed to hold a motions hearing related to the Gonzales case on Feb. 24 at 8:30 a.m.
Schiferl advised Torres to file as many motions as he could as quickly as possible.
“I want to take care of as many motions as I can the first time around,” Schiferl told the attorneys. The judged added he was not attempting to curtail motions being filed by Torres and Gail Morrison, the other defense attorney in the case.
‘I understand you may have some motions that surprise you when you begin discovery,” Schiferl told Torres.
Last month Fouracre confirmed that Gonazales had rejected some suggested plea bargains offered by the prosecution.
Torres also submitted an argument in December that Schiferl find “probable cause of termination” but the case remained in court this week. During the previous hearing, Schiferl had observed that a termination of a case can occur both before and after a formal arraignment.
The Gonzales defense team has argued in court that evidence points to someone other than their client. The prosecution has countered that they have witnesses supporting their charges.
Gonzales was arrested in Lamar last Aug. 7 on suspicion of the murder of Chasity Stine, whose body was found east of Las Animas two days after she had disappeared on a Saturday afternoon.
She left behind four children fathered by Henry Lee Isom Jr., who is a half brother of Gonzales.
Gonzales remains in custody at the Bent County Jail. Attempts to lower his bond from $250,000 to facilitate his release have been unsuccessful.
