Found Deceased AZ - Isabel Mercedes Celis, 6, Tucson, 20 April 2012 *Arrest* #26

[Seattle1]

June 2018 11 Page Affidavit for Search Warrant is an interesting read and available at news link below:

N4T Investigators: Records indicate Clements guided detectives to Celis remains

 

[MummyRatcliffe]

Thank you ladies, for clearing that up, I think I get it now. I hope they make it as difficult as possible for him, And reject any requests he has to make!

 

[MsFacetious]

I think you're right, I think he just likes his current lawyer and wants to use them for all his charges. It makes sense but that's not the luxury you get when you have a public defender.

Very true. Although, if this public defender has known the guy for a while, it MAY expedite the process to simply retain him for this case as well. There is something to be said for avoiding that whole getting to know you process.

Also, if this lawyer knows him, he'd have a better chance of convincing him to plead guilty if that's in his best interest. So maybe that isn't a bad idea to keep him as his lawyer...

 

[Niner]

Thursday, October 11th:
*Prelim Hearing (@ pm PT) – AZ – Isabel Mercedes Celis (6) (April 21, 2012, found Mar. 3, 2017, Id’ed Mar. 31, 2017) & Maribel Victoria Gonzales (13) (June 4, 2014, found June 6, 2014, id’ed June 20, 2014) – *Christopher Matthew Clements (36) indicted (9/15/18) with 2 counts of 1st degree murder, 2 counts of kidnapping a minor under 15, 2 counts of 2nd degree burglary, 1 count of theft by controlling stolen property, 1 count of trafficking in stolen property & 14 counts of sexual exploitation of minors. Plead not guilty. $2M cash only bond.
9/15/18 Update: Made 1st appearance on 9/15/18. Was extradited from Maricopa County to Tucson where he is in jail for criminal charges for burglary, theft & fraud. Arraignment hearing on 9/24.
9/24/18 Update: Plead not guilty. Next hearing 11/19.
10/8/18 Update: Clements asks for new attorney. Judge will decide who will represent him on 10/11.

 

[katydid23]

10/8/18 Update: Clements asks for new attorney. Judge will decide who will represent him on 10/11.



OhOH, he wants a new attorney? I wonder if he is going to try and take back his confession too?

 

[MummyRatcliffe]

He's been appointed his new attorneys.

Man suspected of killing girls switches lawyers

 

[cvaldez1975]

the more by the book they take it, the less likely an appeal. so go ahead and do this

 

[Niner]

He's been appointed his new attorneys.

Man suspected of killing girls switches lawyers

from the article:

Eric W. Kessler, a private practice Scottsdale attorney who handles first-degree murder cases, will defend Clements. Tucson attorney Joseph P. DiRoberto will act as second chair.

The defendant was assigned new counsel from Maricopa County, Eric W. Kessler, an attorney in private practice from Scottsdale who handles 1st D Murder cases. Joseph P. DiRoberto, an attorney here in Tucson, will act as second chair.

So.... he has 4 attorneys? 2 for Isabel's case & 2 for Maribel's? Is that how it works??

TIA!

Also his case # 2018-3978 is not working the Pima Court site. Says no such court case.

So - next hearing 11/19??

 

[cvaldez1975]

from the article:

Eric W. Kessler, a private practice Scottsdale attorney who handles first-degree murder cases, will defend Clements. Tucson attorney Joseph P. DiRoberto will act as second chair.

The defendant was assigned new counsel from Maricopa County, Eric W. Kessler, an attorney in private practice from Scottsdale who handles 1st D Murder cases. Joseph P. DiRoberto, an attorney here in Tucson, will act as second chair.

So.... he has 4 attorneys? 2 for Isabel's case & 2 for Maribel's? Is that how it works??

TIA!

Also his case # 2018-3978 is not working the Pima Court site. Says no such court case.

So - next hearing 11/19??

no, they named the same ones twice. they are probably his attorneys in the pima county case, he still has his other Maricopa county PD attorneys for the other case. I think him having experienced attorneys will be better in that he wont be able to say he had incompetent counsel.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Christopher Clements, the man accused of kidnapping and killing two Tucson girls years ago, was assigned new counsel on Thursday, Oct. 11.

Clements pleaded not guilty on Sept. 24 to 22 felony charges, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child .

[ Documents reveal chilling details into Isabel Celis, Maribel Gonzales investigation ]

[ Mother of murder victim Maribel Gonzales, speaks about the indictment ]

[ Clements gets into fight at Maricopa County Jail ]

He was indicted Sept. 15 and extradited back to Pima County Sept. 23.

[ Maribel’s brother, father talk about indictment of Clements ]
Timeline of case @link:
Suspect in deaths of Isabel Celis, Maribel Gonzales gets new lawyer

 

[MummyRatcliffe]

from the article:

Eric W. Kessler, a private practice Scottsdale attorney who handles first-degree murder cases, will defend Clements. Tucson attorney Joseph P. DiRoberto will act as second chair.

The defendant was assigned new counsel from Maricopa County, Eric W. Kessler, an attorney in private practice from Scottsdale who handles 1st D Murder cases. Joseph P. DiRoberto, an attorney here in Tucson, will act as second chair.

So.... he has 4 attorneys? 2 for Isabel's case & 2 for Maribel's? Is that how it works??

TIA!

Also his case # 2018-3978 is not working the Pima Court site. Says no such court case.

So - next hearing 11/19??

Hi, as cvaldez said, the way I understood it was he has 2 new attorneys.

Yes 11/19 is his next court appearance. I'm from the UK and was wondering... will we still keep getting bits of information and evidence prior to the trial?

Over here, we get very little info regarding the accused and we don't get to hear about their prior convictions, I think to ensure the accused is given a fair unbiased trial. I'm assuming laws are different here as we know all his previous convictions and we also know some of the facts that led to his arrest.

 

[MsFacetious]

Yes, information will continue to come out. It won't be as much as in states like Florida where you know virtually everything, but you will continue to hear information.

 

[Niner]

Thank you for the explanation!

I wish ALL States were like Florida!! Sunshine law! Better for us here at WS!

 

[MsFacetious]

Thank you for the explanation!

I wish ALL States were like Florida!! Sunshine law! Better for us here at WS!

Yes, but not for the innocent and grieving families....

 

[Seattle1]

Death penalty a possibility for man accused of killing Isabel Celis, Maribel Gonzales

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - The death penalty is a possibility for the man accused of killing Isabel Celis and Maribel Gonzales.

Christopher Clements has been accused of kidnapping and killing the two Tucson girls years ago.

On Monday, Tucson News Now found out the state has requested more time in considering if it wants to pursue the death penalty in the case.

The state has until Jan. 24 to make its decision.
Death penalty a possibility for man accused of killing Isabel Celis, Maribel Gonzales

 

[Seattle1]

Death penalty a possibility for man accused of killing Isabel Celis, Maribel Gonzales

[snip]

TIMELINE OF CASE

• 1993: Christopher Clements accused of molesting a very young child. He was never charged.
• 1998: Clements convicted of first-degree sexual abuse in Oregon.
• 2002: Clements convicted of identity theft and assault in Washington.
• 2006: Clements convicted of failure to register as a sex offender in Oregon and Florida.
• 2007: Clements convicted of false reporting in Pima County.
• 2008: Clements convicted of failure to register in Tucson.
• APRIL 2012: Isabel Celis' family reports her disappearance from their home.
• JUNE 2014: Maribel Gonzales disappears while walking to visit a friend. Her body is found days later near North Trico and West Avra Valley roads in rural Pima County.
• FEBRUARY 2017: Someone contacts FBI alleging Clements has information about Celis.
• MARCH 2017: Clements leads federal agents to human remains near North Trico and West Avra Valley roads in rural Pima County. DNA testing reveals the remains belong to Celis.
• SEPT. 15, 2018: Authorities announce 22-count indictment against Clements in deaths of Celis and Gonzales.
• SEPT. 18, 2018: Clements gets into fight with two inmates at the Maricopa County Jail.
• SEPT. 23, 2018: Clements extradited to Pima County to face charges.
• SEPT. 24, 2018: Clements enters plea of not guilty.
• OCT. 11, 2018: Eric W. Kessler assigned as Clements' counsel.
• OCT. 15, 2018: State requests more time to consider seeking death penalty for Clements.

 

[Mysteries1974]

2006: Clements convicted of failure to register as a sex offender in Oregon and Florida

If he was in Florida maybe he was responsible for Jenny kesses case.

 

[Niner]

Not sure if this articles has been posted - I don't recall seeing it myself.

Newly released documents shed light on murders of two young Tucson girls

TUCSON, Ariz. - A batch of newly released documents is shedding light on the investigations surrounding the murders of 6-year-old Isabel Celis and 13-year-old Maribel Gonzalez.

The Pima County Attorney's office released four important documents related to the investigation Monday: Autopsy reports for each girl, an interview transcript with 36-year-old Christopher Clements -- who is charged in both of their deaths -- and photos from a search warrant served at Clements's former home.

 

[Niner]

Monday, Nov. 19th:
*Prelim Hearing (@ pm PT) – AZ – Isabel Mercedes Celis (6) (April 21, 2012, Tucson, found Mar. 3, 2017, Id’ed Mar. 31, 2017) & Maribel Victoria Gonzales (13) (June 4, 2014, Tucson, found June 6, 2014, id’ed June 20, 2014) – *Christopher Matthew Clements (36) indicted (9/15/18) & arraigned (9/24/18) with 2 counts of 1st degree murder, 2 counts of kidnapping a minor under 15, 2 counts of 2nd degree burglary, 1 count of theft by controlling stolen property, 1 count of trafficking in stolen property & 14 counts of sexual exploitation of minors. Plead not guilty. $2M cash only bond.
9/15/18 Update: Made 1st appearance on 9/15/18. Was extradited (9/23/18) from Maricopa County to Tucson where he was in jail for criminal charges for burglary, theft & fraud. Arraignment hearing on 9/24. 9/24: Plead not guilty. Next hearing on 11/19. 10/8: Clements asks for new attorney. Judge will decide who will represent him on 10/11.
10/11/18 Update: Clements was appointed 2 new attorneys. Next hearing 11/19.
11/3/18 Update: DA has until 1/24/19 to decide whether they will seek DP.

 

[MummyRatcliffe]

Hi all,

I had read Christopher Clements latest court date was today. I’ve searched online and found nothing regarding this so far. Does anyone have any info on whether he appeared at court today and what happened?

Thanks