Arizona rancher rejects plea deal in fatal shooting of migrant near the US-Mexico border; trial set

NOGALES, Ariz. (AP) — A March 21 trial date has been set for an Arizona rancher accused of fatally shooting a migrant on his property near the U.S.-Mexico border last year. The Arizona Republic reports that George Alan Kelly rejected a plea deal offered by prosecutors Wednesday that would have reduced charges to one count of negligent homicide if he pleaded guilty. The newspaper says Kelly’s trial in Santa Cruz County Superior Court is expected to last three weeks. The 75-year-old Kelly was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault in the January 2023 shooting of 48-year-old Gabriel Cuen-Buitimea of Nogales, Mexico.