MISTRIAL AZ - Isabel Celis, 6, Tucson, 20 April 2012, found deceased in 2017* *Arrest* #27

[Seattle1]

Man found guilty of murder, kidnapping of Tucson girl

A Pima County Superior Court jury deliberated for less than two days before finding Christopher Clements guilty in the death of 13-year-old Maribel Gonzalez.

www.12news.com

 

[JerseyGirl]

A judge also will hear testimony Nov. 14 for a possible change of venue for Clements’ other murder trial, scheduled for Feb. 2 involving the death of 6-year-old Isabel Celis. Clements, a 40-year-old convicted sex offender with a long criminal record, is facing life in prison when he’s sentenced in the Gonzalez case. Clements was arrested in 2018 and indicted on 22 felony counts including two counts each of first-degree murder and kidnapping in the girls’ deaths.

Celis vanished from her parents’ home in April 2012 while Gonzalez disappeared while walking to a friend’s house in June 2014. Authorities said Gonzalez’s body was found days after her disappearance while Celis’ remains weren’t recovered until 2017 after Clements led federal agents to the location. Clements currently is serving a prison term of up to 35 years for a Maricopa County burglary in 2017.

Man seeking a new trial, venue change in Tucson murder cases

A man convicted last month in the first of two murder cases in Tucson is seeking a new trial, according to authorities.

www.azfamily.com

 

[Niner]

@PayrollNerd - I have a review hearing for Clements for Isabel's case on 10/21/22 - is that still on the docket or is the next one the motions hearing on 11/14/22?

TIA!

 

[PayrollNerd]

CR2017-005669-001
Christopher Clements

Criminal Court Case Information - Case History

Superior Court Docket: Criminal Court Case Information - Case History

www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov

 

[Niner]

CR2017-005669-001
Christopher Clements

View attachment 374535

Criminal Court Case Information - Case History

Superior Court Docket: Criminal Court Case Information - Case History

www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov

Sorry PayrollNerd - I should have given you the correct case #. The one above that you posted is in Maricopa County - and I am looking for the Pima County murder case #2018-3978-001 for Isabel's murder.

I will go ahead & post the review hearing that was set for 10/21/22.

 

[Niner]

Friday, October 21st:
*Review Hearing (@ am PT) – AZ – Isabel Mercedes Celis (6) (April 21, 2012, Tucson, found Mar. 3, 2017, Id’ed Mar. 31, 2017) – *Christopher Matthew Clements (30 @ time of 1st crime/36/now 40) aka Damion James Johnson indicted (9/15/18) & arraigned & charged (9/24/18) with 1 count of 1st degree murder, 1 count of kidnapping a minor under 15 & 14 counts of sexual exploitation of minors. Plead not guilty. $2M cash only bond. DA will not seek DP.
Murder trial for Isabel was set to begin on 9/8/22 with jury selection continued to 2/2/23 with jury selection (2 days) & trial starts on Monday, 2/6/23 thru 3/3/23.
Court hearings from 8/23/19 to 5/24/22 reference post #462 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...tucson-20-april-2012-arrest-27.464075/page-24
5/25/22 Update: Review hearing on 10/21/22. 10/18/22 Update: Clements was convicted Sept. 30 of 1st degree murder & kidnapping in the death of Maribel. He was scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday, 10/19/22 in Pima County Superior Court, but the date has been moved to 11/14/22. Court officials also said Clements’ attorneys have filed a motion for a new trial & a motion for judgment of acquittal not withstanding the verdict. A 11/7/22 motion hearing is set for both motions. A judge also will hear testimony 11/14/22 for a possible change of venue for Clements’ other murder trial (Isabel), scheduled for 2/2/23 involving the death of Isabel.
Maribel Victoria Gonzales (13) (June 4, 2014, Tucson, found June 6, 2014, id’ed June 20, 2014) indicted (9/15/18) & arraigned & charged (9/24/18) with 1 count of 1st degree murder, 1 count of kidnapping a minor under 15 & 14 counts of sexual exploitation of minors. Plead not guilty. $2M cash only bond. DA will not seek DP.
Trial started 9/13/22 & ended 9/30/22 with a guilty verdict. Motions hearing for new trial on 11/7/22. Sentencing hearing on 11/14/22.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Sorry PayrollNerd - I should have given you the correct case #. The one above that you posted is in Maricopa County - and I am looking for the Pima County murder case #2018-3978-001 for Isabel's murder.

I will go ahead & post the review hearing that was set for 10/21/22.

Oh sorry! I’ll be on my laptop later today. Maybe I can get that calendar to work.

 

[Niner]

Oh sorry! I’ll be on my laptop later today. Maybe I can get that calendar to work.

Okay!

 

[PayrollNerd]

CR20183978
Clements Christopher

I tried a different browser today and was able to open the calendar, finally!


file:///C:/Users/thoma/Downloads/OnlineCourtCalendar%20(4).pdf

 

[PayrollNerd]

Sorry PayrollNerd - I should have given you the correct case #. The one above that you posted is in Maricopa County - and I am looking for the Pima County murder case #2018-3978-001 for Isabel's murder.

I will go ahead & post the review hearing that was set for 10/21/22.

Nothing shows up under that case ID.

 

[Niner]

Thank you for those updates @PayrollNerd ! Much appreciated.

And once again I made a mistake - he has the same case # for both cases. Should be been CR20183978 which you posted on #490.

 

[Niner]

Monday, November 14th:
*Review Hearing (Change of Venue) (@ 11am PT) – AZ – Isabel Mercedes Celis (6) (April 21, 2012, Tucson, found Mar. 3, 2017, Id’ed Mar. 31, 2017) – *Christopher Matthew Clements (30 @ time of 1st crime/36/now 40) aka Damion James Johnson indicted (9/15/18) & arraigned & charged (9/24/18) with 1 count of 1st degree murder, 1 count of kidnapping a minor under 15 & 14 counts of sexual exploitation of minors. Plead not guilty. $2M cash only bond. DA will not seek DP.
Murder trial for Isabel was set to begin on 9/8/22 with jury selection continued to 2/2/23 with jury selection (2 days) & trial starts on Monday, 2/6/23 thru 3/3/23.
Court hearings from 8/23/19 to 5/25/22 reference post #487 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...tucson-20-april-2012-arrest-27.464075/page-24
10/18/22 Update: Clements was convicted Sept. 30, 2022 of 1st degree murder & kidnapping in the death of Maribel. He was scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, 10/19/22 in Pima County Superior Court, but the date has been moved to 11/14/22. Court officials also said Clements’ attorneys have filed a motion for a new trial & a motion for judgment of acquittal not withstanding the verdict. A 11/7/22 motion hearing is set for both motions. A judge also will hear testimony 11/14/22 for a possible change of venue for Clements’ other murder trial (Isabel), scheduled for 2/2/23 involving the death of Isabel.
10/21/22 Update: No info on review hearing. Motions (review) hearing regarding change of venue on 11/14/22 @ 11am.
*Maribel Victoria Gonzales (13) (June 4, 2014, Tucson, found June 6, 2014, id’ed June 20, 2014) indicted (9/15/18) & arraigned & charged (9/24/18) with 1 count of 1st degree murder, 1 count of kidnapping a minor under 15 & 14 counts of sexual exploitation of minors. Plead not guilty. $2M cash only bond. DA will not seek DP.
Trial started 9/13/22 & ended 9/30/22 with a guilty verdict. Sentencing hearing on 11/14/22.

 

[Niner]

Any news on change of venue for this case?

I see he was sentenced to natural life in prison for Maribel's murder.

TIA!

 

[Niner]

@PayrollNerd - any dates for Isabel case for hearings? Did he get change of venue?

TIA!

 

[PayrollNerd]

Christopher Clements
CR20183978

I've tried 3 different browsers and I cannot get the calendar to load. WS was being super slow earlier so I waited a few hours and still can't get anything to populate. Just constant errors.

 

[Niner]

Christopher Clements
CR20183978

I've tried 3 different browsers and I cannot get the calendar to load. WS was being super slow earlier so I waited a few hours and still can't get anything to populate. Just constant errors.

Okay - I shall check back next week sometime! And thanks for taking the time to look it up.

 

[Niner]

@PayrollNerd - just wondering if you might be able to access the court site yet? Wonder why sometimes you can get in & other times it fails...

TIA if you can find the next hearing date!

 

[Niner]

@PayrollNerd - just in case you didn't see my previous post - any luck in accessing the court site for the next hearing date?

TIA!

 

[PayrollNerd]

I cannot get anything on this case to load. It errors out every time, on every browser. I went back to the email I sent the court and it's the same link but it still doesn't work. I have no idea what to try next.

 

[Niner]

I cannot get anything on this case to load. It errors out every time, on every browser. I went back to the email I sent the court and it's the same link but it still doesn't work. I have no idea what to try next.

I do not know what to suggest...