Nelson Fumbles Death Penalty Challenge From County Attorney Thomas In Horizon Debate

County Attorney Andrew Thomas Wins Debate on Horizon; Nelson Fumbles Challenge to Answer Which Current Death Penalty Prosecutions He Would Not Pursue

Nelson Has Pledged to Reduce Death Penalty Efforts; Once Tried to Stop Capital Punishment for Convicted Double Murderer


PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 21, 2008. Throughout his campaign ACLU lawyer Tim Nelson has said Andrew Thomas seeks the death penalty too often and that he would not seek it as much (politickeraz.com, East Valley Tribune).

So, at a Tuesday night Horizon television debate, Thomas posed a simple challenge to Nelson: Which of the current death penalty cases Thomas’ office has successfully prosecuted, as well as the ones it is pursuing the death penalty for would Nelson decline to pursue?

Nelson looked dumbfounded, confused and was ultimately unable to answer the question when Thomas presented him with the current list of cases. In fact, Nelson failed to answer the question the three different times Thomas asked him during their joint appearance on Horizon.

The lists presented to Nelson Tuesday night are below.

Nelson previously came under fire from Thomas for failing to disclose his efforts to stop the death penalty for convicted double murderer Jose Ceja. Ceja brutally killed a Phoenix couple.

“I believe the death penalty is a specific and general deterrent. My opponent does not. There are public safety consequences to him not as aggressively pursuing death penalty convictions. Of the current cases, the public has a right to know which ones he would not pursue,” Thomas said.

For more information or to arrange interviews with Mr. Thomas please call Jason Rose or Jim Sharpe.

The lists:

KILLERS THOMAS’ OFFICE HAS SUCCESFULLY SOUGHT THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST
First Name

Last Name

Crime
PATRICK

BEARUP

Bearup and two others beat their victim, shot him twice and threw him over a cliff.
STEVEN

BOGGS

Boggs and co-defendant Christopher Hargrave, white supremacists, robbed a Jack in the Box and killed three employees, shooting them in the back in the cooler. Boggs later said that his motive was “to rid the world of a few needless illegals.”
DEREK

CHAPELL

Chappell drowned his ex-girlfriend’s two year old son in an apartment swimming pool and then left the victim’s body lying face down in the pool.
CLARENCE

DIXON

Dixon raped and strangled his victim in her Tempe apartment. It took two decades for the case to be solved. He raped another woman before being caught and convicted.
ALFREDO

GARCIA

After committing a series of daylight robberies, Garcia shot and killed a Phoenix bar owner who was stocking an ATM machine.
AARON

GUNCHES

Gunches, an ex-con at the time, shot and killed a DPS highway patrolman during a routine traffic stop. He is currently seeking female pen pals on the internet.
CHRISTOPHER

HARGRAVE

Please see Steve Boggs’ description above.
RYAN

KUHS

Kuhs stabbed his roommate’s brother 21 times with a butterfly knife while the victim laid sleeping, then left the victim or dead. The victim died later that day in emergency surgery.
SHAWN

LYNCH

Lynch bound his victim and slit his throat, nearly decapitating him.
FRANK

MCCRAY

McCray beat, raped, and strangled his victim, who was at home preparing for a trip to California.
JULIUS

MOORE

Moore shot three people to death and shot another in the neck. She survived and testified against him at trial.
CORY

MORRIS

Morris strangled five women and used the corpses for sexual gratification.
DARREL

PANDELI

Pandeli strangled his victim, cut off her nipples, and flushed them down the toilet.

GARY

SNELLING

Snelling strangled his victim to death in her townhouse. It was days before her body was discovered.
PAUL

SPEER

Speer and his co-conspirator brother, Brian Womble, conspired to kill two witnesses against them in burglary trial. They broke into the couple’s home, shot one victim to death, and permanently debilitated the other. Three children were in the victims’ home at the time of the murder.
JOSHUA

VILLALOBOS

Villalobos beat his girlfriend’s five year old daughter to death, only bringing her to the hospital after she had been dead for hours.
BRIAN

WOMBLE

Please see Paul Speer description above.


ACCUSED KILLERS THOMAS’ OFFICE IS SEEKING THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST
First Name

Last Name

Crime
BERNARD

ALLEN

Allen is charged with a fatal stabbing at Mesa’s Fiesta Mall.
CHRIS

ALONSO

Alonso is charged with shooting and killing a public defender.
ROBERT

ARBOLIDA

Abrolida is charged with a home invasion murder in Sun City. Co-defendant Gilbert Martinez is listed below.
JUVENAL

ARELLANO-HERRERA

Arellano-Herrera is charged with killing a 68-year-old man in his kitchen during a robbery. He was found in the victim’s car in Santa Ana, CA.
PHILLIP

ATEM

Atem is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Yar Jok Gar, 49.
ROYCE

AMRBRUSTER

Amrbruster is charged with killing a woman as she tried to make 911 call.
JUAN

ARMENTA

Armenta is charged with strangling his victim to death for offending a roommate. Co-defendant Daniel Eason is listed below.
KEVIN

AUGUSTINIAK

Augustiniak’s victim was allegedly murdered for offending Hell’s Angels
BENJAMIN

BAKER

Baker allegedly beat, drove to the desert and shot his victim.
TRENT

BENSON

Benson is charged with murdering two women after having sex with them.
STONNEY

BIDDINGS

Bidding is charged with murdering his victim to rob him of $500.
ERIC

BOYSTON

Boyston is charged with killing three relatives.
LATISHA

BRECKENRIDGE

Breckenridge is charged with killing her three-year-old niece.
KEVIN

BROWN

Brown was one of three defendants (the other two are listed below: Manuel Chavarria and Alfredo Herrera) who were charged with guarding Herrera's house from drive-bys, then opening fire on a car of eight people looking for a party. One was killed and one was paralyzed.
RYAN

BUCKMAN

Buckman is charged with participating in the murder of three people in a townhouse over a drug debt. Co-defendant Michael Walton is listed below.
DANIEL

BUENO

Bueno, along with co-defendant Robert Hernandez (listed below) is charged with shooting three people to death in what police described as a robbery attempt related to drug trafficking.
JEFFREY

BURKE

Burke and a co-defendant allegedly held a victim captive, beat him to death and burned the body.
JOHNATHAN

BURNS

Charged with sexually assaulting and killing an 18-year-old. The victim’s remains were found in the desert.
GEOFFREY

BURTON

Burton, a member of the Aryan Brotherhood, is charged with beating and sliting the throat of a woman.
CRAIG

CALDERON

He and co defendant Bryan Hunt - listed below – allegedly beat to death a real estate investor during a robbery.
PETE

CALLEROS

Calleros is charged with shooting his victim several times in the head and dumping the body behind a Tempe Goodwill store.
JOSE

CALVILLO

Calvillo is charged with committing a gang -retaliation murder.
JOHNNY

CAYEROS

Cayeros allegedly shot a man to death and wounded two others in a gang retaliation.
TYSON

CHAMBERLIN

Chamberlin and his fiancé were babysitting a child while the biological parents were at a hotel. Chamberlin is charged with murdering the child.
MANUEL

CHAVARRIA

Chavarria is a co-defendant of Kevin Brown (previously listed) and Alfredo Herrera (listed below).
JODY

CLINE

Cline is charged with sexually assaulting and stabbing a young woman who let him stay at her apartment.
BENJAMIN

COTA

Cota is charged with a double murder in Peoria.
RYAN

CHRONIS

Chronis allegedly stabbed a woman multiple times in her apartment, put her body in a car and was arrested with the victim’s body in Mexico.
CARLOS

CURIEL

Curiel is charged with the robbery and shooting of several illegal alien victims in an apartment complex.
DONALD

DELAHANTY

Delahanty is awaiting trial for the slaying of Phoenix Police Officer David Uribe.
JORGE

DELGADO-PAREDES

Delgado-Paredes, along with seven other defendants, charged with luringtwo men into an apartment, then kidnapping and assaulting both and demanded ransom. One victim was shot, dumped and burned after an argument. The other was found 5 days later bound and gagged – but alive.
JOHN

DIAZ

Diaz is charged with slitting his victim's throat after the victim went to collect $50 from Diaz for helping his family move.
JOHN

DIAZ

Diaz allegedly shot and killed two people who were arguing with his step father - a landlord trying to evict the victims' family.
REYNALDO

DIAZ

Diaz is charged with killing his girlfriend's son by hitting his head into a bedroom wall several times.
SAMUEL

DIETEMAN

Dieteman is the co-defendant in the Serial Shooter cases with Dale Hausner. Pled guilty to two counts of first degree murder.
JEFFREY

DUCHANE

Duchane and his co-defendant wife, Reiko Troupe (listed below), are charged with killing their own daughter.
DANIEL

EASON

Eason is the co-defendant of Juan Armenta (listed above).
EDGAR

ENRIQUEZ

Enriquez is charged with murdering a government informant during a drug deal. He is the co-defendant of Luis Hernandez listed below.
JOHN

FARINAS

Farinas is charged with carrying out a Mexican Mafia hit.
JOHN

FARINAS

Farinas is charged with shooting his victim to death outside a bar after a confrontation.
ANDREW

FICKLIN

Ficklin is accused of a 1987 sexual assault and murder—linked through a DNA hit on a cold case.
CLARK

FISH

Fish is charged with killing his girlfriend. The two had been in abusive relationship.
HOWARD

FISK

Fisk is charged with murdering his two high school friends.
JOHN

FITZGERALD

Fitzgerald allegedly stabbed his mother with a sword and then shot her to death.
RALPH

FLORES

Flores is charged with a Mexican Mafia hit.
SEAN

GAINES

Gaines was one of three defendants who allegedly beat, shot and cut off the finger of a victim. The victim’s body was dumped off a cliff.
MIKE

GALLARDO

Gallardo is charged with murdering his victim during a robbery/burglary.
ALFONSO

GARCIA

Garcia is charged with murdering his victim in a drive-by shooting at a party.
DANIEL

GARCIA

Garcia was one of several defendants who allegedly drove to a house and fired numerous automatic rounds and fled, killing one person.
JONATHAN

GARCIA

Garcia is charged with robbing and killing the wife of couple he had been living with. The couple had kicked him out 3 weeks prior.
MANUEL

GARCIA

Garcia was one of several defendants who allegedly drove to a house and fired numerous automatic rounds and fled, killing one person.
LARRY

GARY

Gary is charged with killing his cousin and his cousin's female friend. Gary had previously dated the female friend.
JESUS

GODINEZ

Godinez, along with seven other defendants, is alleged to have lured two men into an apartment. Kidnapped, assaulted both and demanded ransom. One victim was shot, dumped and burned after an argument. The other was found 5 days later bound and gagged – but alive.
FABIO

GOMEZ

Gomez is an ex-minor league baseball player who is charged with bludgeoning a woman to death with a baseball bat.
DIANA

GONZALEZ-BAIRD

Gonzalez-Baird and her boyfriend Dean Warren (listed below) argued with a witness who was scheduled to testify against Warren in an aggravated assault case, and are charged with murdering the victim with a crowbar.
MARK

GOUDEAU

Goudeau is charged with multiple murders and sexual assaults in what the media have dubbed the “Baseline Killer” crimes.
SHAWN

GRELL

The death penalty is sought against Grell for setting fire to and killing his two year-old daughter.
SHARON

HALE

Hale is charged with hiring co-defendant Clarence Moton (listed below) to kill her husband.
HENRY

HALL

Death Penalty resentencing. He and a co-defendant killed a robbery victim and were arrested in victim's car.
JEFFREY

HAMLET

Hamlet was an MCSO detention officer who is charged with killing his wife. After the crime he attempted to stab himself in the chest.
RODNEY

HARDY

Hardy is charged with killing his wife and another victim when picking up his wife from a party.
ROBERT

HARVILL

Harvill is charged with a Mexican Mafia contract killing.
KATHERINE

HATTEN

Hatten is charged with killing her own four-month-old child.
DALE

HAUSNER

Hausner is a co-defendant in the so-called Serial Shooter cases with Samuel Dieteman.
CHARLES

HAWKINS

Hawkins and two juvenile co-defendants are charged with shooting to death a home owner during a home invasion.
BRANDON

HENDERSON

Henderson allegedly committed 15 armed robberies and killed an apartment landlord when he came to collect rent from Henderson’s girlfriend.
LUIS

HERNANDEZ

Hernandez is charged with murdering a government informant during a drug deal. He’s the co-defendant of Edgar Enriquez (listed above).
ROBERT

HERNANDEZ

Hernandez is charged with shooting three people to death in what police described as a robbery attempt related to drug trafficking. Co-defendant Daniel Bueno is listed above.
ALFREDO

HERRERA

Herrera is a co-defendant of Kevin Brown and Manuel Chavarria (listed above).
BRYAN

HULSEY

Hulsey is charged with shooting and killing Glendale Police Officer Anthony Holly.
BRYAN

HUNT

Hunt is a co -defendant of Craig Calderon - listed above.
DRAKE

INCIONG

Inciong allegedly assaulted his sister and barricaded himself in her home waiting for her husband to arrive. Her husband was shot to death on arrival.
ABELARDO

JARQUIN-LOPEZ

Jarquin-Lopex is charged with attempting to have sex with an illegal alien he was helping to smuggle, and killing her when she refused his sexual advances.
RONNIE

JOSEPH

During an argument with his wife, Joseph is charged with shooting three people - killing one person.
CHRISTOPHER

LAMAR

Working with two co-defendants, Lamar is charged with killing his victim after kidnapping him for several hours in the trunk of a car. The victim was buried in the desert.
CHRISTOPHER

LANGEN

Langen is currently on trial for killing his girlfriend's three-month-old child.
EDWARD

LAWTON

Lawton is charged with killing one of three people in an SUV who had given him a ride to a 7-11.
SCOTT

LEHR

Death Penalty resentencing. Lehr killed three and sexually assaulted or kidnapped six others.
EDWIN

LIU

Liu is charged with shooting and killing multiple victims in Wal-Mart parking lot.
RODOLFO

LOPEZ

Lopez was one of several defendants who allegedly drove to a house and fired numerous automatic rounds and fled, killing one person. The defendants were dressed paramilitary style.
MICHAEL

MALDONADO

Maldonado is currently on trial for killing his girlfriend's one-year-old child.
JAHMARI

MANUEL

Manuel is charged with killing a pawn shop owner during a robbery.
ANGEL

MARTINEZ

Martinez is charged with working with two others – at the direction of a drug dealer – to kidnap and kill a woman who was doing drug sales at an apartment complex.
GILBERT

MARTINEZ

Martinez is the co-defendant of Robert Arbolida (listed above).
JESUS

MARTINEZ

Martinez is charged with killing the employee of an apartment complex mini-market.
JEFFREY

MARTINSON

Martinson is charged with killing his own son during a custody dispute with his ex-wife.
MATTHEW

MCEVOY

McEvoy is charged with driving a hack cab and murdering the person he picked up.
CARL

MCGEE

2001 cold case DNA hit. McGee is charged with the sexual-assault and killing of a victim in her apartment.
CARLOS

MEDINA

Medina was a co-defendant of Albert Sermento and Jose Vergara-Martinez (listed below). They are charged with murdering a MCDOT employee in his county truck.
EFREN

MEDINA

Medina is currently being resentenced for a 1993 beating death of a man pulled from his own car and run over.
WILLIAM

MILLER

Miller is charged with killing five people in a Mesa house – including two children. Two of the victims were scheduled to testify against him in an upcoming arson-for-hire case.
JEFFREY

MOORE

Moore, with others, allegedly robbed a man in his house, bound, gagged him and took his car and money to go to a casino. The man was found dead several days later - still bound and gagged.
MICHAEL

MORALES

Morales is charged with killing his victim and dumping him in a field next to a Gilbert intersection.
FERNANDO

MORENO

Moreno and Andrew Valdez - listed below – are charged with a drive-by gang retaliation murder.
CLARENCE

MOTON

Moton was allegedly hired by co-defendant Sharon Hale to kill her husband.
EDDIE

MUNOZ

Munoz was part of a group of three who traveled from New Mexico to obtain drugs for sale. Munoz allegedly killed one of the two in the traveling party.
ISRAEL

NARANJO

Naranjo is charged with killing his pregnant girlfriend when he became convinced the unborn child was not his.
JOSHUA

NUNEZ

Nunez is charged with a Mexican Mafia killing.
MARJORIE

ORBIN

Orbin is charged with killing her husband. His torso was found in the desert.
JOEL

OROZCO

Orozco was an apartment complex maintenance worker who is charged with the 2003 sexual-assault and murder of a tenant by slitting her throat.
MANUEL

OVANTE

Ovante and two others were allegedly looking for drugs and ended up shooting a sleeping known dealer and two associates. Two of the three died.
ROGELIO

PALACIOS-HERNANDEZ

Palacios-Hernandez, along with seven other defendants, is charged with luring two men into an apartment, kidnapping and assaulting both and demanding ransom. One victim was shot, dumped and burned after an argument. The other was found 5 days later bound and gagged but alive.
CARLOS

PANTOJA

Pantoja is charged with killing two people during a drug deal.
STEVEN

PARKER

Parker is charged with killing an elderly couple in their home.
ISIAH

PATTERSON

Patterson is charged with killing a woman in an apartment complex.
SEAN

PIERCE

Pierce is charged with killing his own 2 month old child.
VICKIE

PORTER

Porter allegedly was a care provider for one-year-old child who was malnourished and died of multiple blunt force injuries.
WAYNE

PRINCE

Death Penalty resentencing. Prince killed his 13-year-old daughter after arguing with his wife. He shot his wife in the face - she survived.
JOE

QUINTERO

Quintero is charged with murdering his victim for hire.
JESUS

RAMIREZ VALDEZ

Ramirez-Valdez allegedly shot and killed the boyfriend of his ex-girlfriend.
LISA

RANDALL

Randall was a babysitter who is charged with killing a child in her care. The child had a fractured skull.
STEPHEN

REEVES

Reeves is charged with beating, strangling and slitting the throat of a young woman working in an insurance office.
KEITH

ROBERTS

Roberts allegedly killed his own child who received multiple cerebral hematomas and had several healing rib fractures.
ANDREW

ROBINS

Robins is charged with stomping an older man to death with his own bicycle at a Peoria bus stop.
EDWARD

ROSE

Rose is charged with shooting and killing Phoenix Police Officer George Cortez.
JOSE

SANCHEZ

Sanchez is charged with shooting at the occupants of a car multiple times, killing the nephew of one occupant. Prior to this and on same night, Sanchez fired a 9mm 12 times at two other people.
ISIDRO

SAUCEDA

Sauceda allegedly shot a rival gang member at a "make peace" get together over perceived disrespect.
ALBERT

SERMENO

Sermeno was the co-defendant of Carlos Medina and Jose Vergara-Martinez - listed above.
ALBERT, JR

SERPA

Serpa is charged with shooting the driver of another vehicle after an argument ensued when one vehicle was blocked by the other.
SAMANTHA

SOMEGUSTAVA

Somegustava and a co-defendant allegedly robbed a man in a car outside the co-defendant’s house. Victim was led to a cornfield where he was shot-gunned.
BULMARO

TABERA

Tabera allegedly kidnapped, sexually assaulted victim and punched her in the face. Beating caused victim to have a seizure. Tabera drove around in truck waiting for her to die and dumped body by the roadside in Sedona.
ISMAEL

TORRES

DNA cold case hit. Torres is charged with sexually assaulting and killing the victim in an alleyway.
PEDRO

TORRES

Torres is charged with killing his girlfriend by stabbing her in the throat.
ROSALVA

TREVINO

Trevino is charged with shot-gunning a victim who may have provided information in ca riminal case against Trevino's brother.
REIKO

TROUPE

Troupe and previously listed husband, Jeffrey Duchane, are charged with killing their own daughter.
HOWARD

UNDERWOOD

Underwood is charged with stripping, binding, and stabbing three people. Two died from having their throats slit.
DEMETRIO

URTUSUASTEGUI

Urtusuastegui is charged with killing one victim, who was bound. Two others were bound with plastic bags over their necks. They survived.
ANDREW

VALDEZ

Valdez and Fernando Moreno (listed above) are charged with a drive-by gang retaliation murder.
PETE

VANWINKLE

MCSO inmate who allegedly assaulted and killed another inmate.
JASON

VASQUEZ

Vasquez, with two others, are charged with shooting the victim several times with a .380, then propping up the victim and shooting him with a shotgun.
JOSE

VERGARA MARTINEZ

Co-defendant of Albert Sermento and Carlos Medina - listed above.
MICHAEL

WALTON

Co-defendant of previously listed Ryan Buckman.
DEAN

WARREN

Warren and his co-defendant girlfriend Diana Gonzalez-Baird allegedly argued with a witness who was scheduled to testify against Warren in an aggravated assault case, and murdered the witness with a crowbar.
JEFFREY

WHITE

White is charged with stabbing and killing his victim after he approached him in Margaret T. Hance Park asking for money.
THOMAS

WILKERSON

Wilkerson is charged with killing his ex-girlfriend whom he had been dating for a year. Victim broke off relationship one week prior as she found him stealing $300 to support his drug habit.
MARITZA

ZAZUETA

Zazueta, along with seven other defendants, allegedly lured two men into an apartment, kidnapped, assaulted both and demanded ransom. One victim was shot, dumped and burned after an argument. The other was found 5 days later bound and gagged – but alive.
WEN

ZHANG

Zhang is charged with killing his ex wife at her place of work-the Golden Gate restaurant in Mesa.

Contact:

Jason Rose

Rose & Allyn Public Relations

Office: 480.423.1414

Mobile: 602.791.4488

jrose@roseandallynpr.com

Jim Sharpe

Rose & Allyn Public Relations

Office: 480.423.1414

Mobile: 602.363.4780

jimsharpe@roseandallypr.com