Illegal immigrants plead not guilty to break-ins

Dec 29, 2007
By Jonathon Shacat
WICK NEWS SERVICE



BISBEE — Four illegal immigrants charged in connection with a string of three break-ins that took place in Cochise County in early December pleaded not guilty during an arraignment hearing on Friday.

Alberto Jimenez-Garcia, 36; Alejandrino Lara-Silva, 19; Natalio Valenzuela-Valdez, 41; and Yerco Vedobch-Arrvayo, 18, were indicted on a total of 41 counts by a grand jury Dec. 13.

According to the indictments, the incidents took place in the 10900 block of S. Highway 181 in Willcox and in the 8800 block of E. Goforth Lane in Pearce on Dec. 5 and in the 10600 block of N. Wiegand Pratt Road in Elfrida on Dec. 6.

Cochise County Superior Court judge Donna M. Beumler scheduled a pretrial hearing and jury trial dates for the four defendants. The cases are assigned to Division 2.

A pretrial hearing for all three cases is set for March 3, 2008. The trial for the Willcox incident will be held on April 29, 2008, the trial for the Pearce incident will occur on May 13, 2008, and the trial for the Elfrida incident will take place May 27, 2008.

All four men are charged with first-degree burglary of the Willcox residence, breaking a window, and theft of a Winchester bolt action .270 rifle, a Rossi .357 revolver and a Marlin bolt action .22 rifle. Advertisement

Lara-Silva, Valenzuela-Valdez and Vedobch-Arrvayo are charged with entering the Pearce home with intent to commit theft while possessing a deadly weapon, kidnapping, robbery while armed and robbery while aided by accomplices.

Lara-Silva is charged with aggravated assault. Valenzuela-Valdez and Vedobch-Arrvayo are charged with another count of robbery while aided by accomplices.

Lara-Silva, Valenzuela-Valdez and Vedobch-Arrvayo are charged with entering the Elfrida house with intent to commit theft while possessing a deadly weapon as well as theft of a Taurus PT-92 9 mm semiautomatic handgun, a Ruger .357 magnum revolver and a Heckler & Koch .22 caliber revolver.

Beumler said all four men will continue to be held in jail without bond. It is a requirement of state law because they are illegal immigrants accused of committing a major crime.

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