Arizona rancher appears in court, bond set at $1 million
The prosecution argues a Nogales, Arizona, rancher intentionally shot and killed an undocumented Mexican national who was on his property.
FIRST ON FOX — Arizona rancher George Alan Kelly, who is facing murder and other charges in the shooting of a Mexican national on his border property, has been released from custody, Fox News Digital confirmed Thursday.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Gerardo Castillo confirmed that 73-year-old Kelly posted bond Wednesday after appearing in court.
Judge Emilio Velasquez had upheld Kelly's $1 million bond, though agreed to convert it from cash to surety. He also set the next hearing date for Friday despite the defense pleading for a continuance of 30 to 60 days to allow time to confer with experts and gather the forensic and ballistic evidence they say authorities have neglected to process.
Christian crowdsourcing site GiveSendGo had picked up the fundraising baton for Kelly's bond and defense after GoFundMe booted all campaigns for the rancher from its site.
"George and Wanda Kelly are so grateful for all your support and donations," a post read Thursday on a GiveSendGo fundraiser titled, "Drop charges against Arizona Rancher George Kelly," announcing the rancher's release. "When we come together and stand up for what is right we MAKE a difference! They still have a long road ahead of them. Please continue to support George. God Bless."
George Alan Kelly, seated far left, appears for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. (Santa Cruz County Court)
Kelly's attorney, Brenna Larkin, said she was unable to comment Thursday when asked about the rancher's release.
In court Wednesday, Larkin blasted prosecutors for charging Kelly with first-degree premeditated murder before a thorough investigation into the Jan. 30 shooting on the ranch he has shared with his wife, Wanda, for decades outside Nogales.
The rancher was charged with two additional counts of aggravated assault Tuesday after prosecutors say two surviving victims stepped up and offered testimony. The state maintains Kelly shot an "unarmed" man in the back "in an unprovoked attack as he ran for his life" more than 100 yards from Kelly's residence.
George Alan Kelly was released from Santa Cruz County Jail after posting bond. (Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office via AP)
But the defense contends Kelly only fired "warning shots" into the air earlier that day after spotting a group of armed men moving through trees by his home on the ranch. A defense filing alleges one of the armed men "pointed an AK-47 right at" Kelly, who called a Border Patrol ranch liaison multiple times that fateful day. Prosecutors claim the group was not armed.
Larkin told the courtroom Wednesday that there's a "very large incentive structure for people to come forward and to have claimed to have been witnesses," noting the expectation of immigration benefits, as well as "pressure from traffickers who have an interest in blaming this event on Mr. Kelly."
George Alan Kelly had asked a judge at a prior hearing to reduce his $1 million bond because his wife was left alone unable to attend to their livestock. The judge upheld the $1 million bond Wednesday, converting it to a surety bond. (Santa Cruz County Clerk of the Court)
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"Testimony is something that is bought and sold by drug traffickers the same way that drugs and people are bought and sold," Larkin said Wednesday.
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