BENTONVILLE -- A judge on Thursday ordered a Rogers man, accused of killing the mother of his two children, be held in the Benton County Jail without bond.
Jose Alonso Torres, 26, was arrested Tuesday in connection with capital murder, two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and aggravated assault. Prosecutors haven't filed formal charges against Torres.
Torres arraignment
Jose Alonso Torres, 26, of Rogers is scheduled to appear in court at 8 a.m. May 14 for his arraignment in Circuit Judge Brad Karren’s courtroom.
Source: Staff Report
Torres is accused of shooting and killing Norma Salinas, 24, while she sat in a Chevrolet Tahoe at a mobile home park at North Bloomington Road and Fullerton Avenue in Lowell. She was pronounced dead Tuesday evening at Mercy Hospital in Rogers.
Torres appeared in court for a bond hearing Thursday before Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren.
The judge ordered Torres be held without bond because of the seriousness of the case, the likelihood of conviction and that Torres is in the country illegally.
The judge appointed Jay Saxton, Benton County's chief public defender, to represent Torres, but only for Thursday's bond hearing. Saxton told the judge he read the affidavit and believes prosecutors had enough probable cause to hold and detain Torres.
Karren was concerned whether Torres needed an interpreter to understand the proceedings.
Saxton said another attorney from his office met with Torres on Wednesday at the Benton County Jail and didn't have any problems communicating with him.
"He's confused about the entire situation as most people would be," Saxton said of Torres.
The judge ordered Torres not have any contact with Salinas' family members and prohibited visitation with his and Salinas' daughters.
Torres wanted to know how long the no visitation order would be in place, and the judge said the order will stand until changed by the court.
Benton County Prosecutor Nathan Smith told the judge a Lowell police detective informed Torres he may contact the Mexican consulate about his case since Torres is a citizen of Mexico. Saxton plans to contact the consulate himself for Torres.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Torres and Salinas had been in a relationship for five years, but family members told police Salinas had been trying to end it. The two were in an argument Tuesday, police said.
Torres was trying to get in the Tahoe, but the doors were locked, according to the affidavit. Ivan Salinas, her brother, told police he stepped in and told Torres to leave his sister alone and she wasn't going anywhere with him, according to the affidavit.
Ivan Salinas said he attempted to push Torres away and Torres pulled out a gun with his right hand and pointed it at him before turning and firing one shot through the Tahoe's passenger window, hitting his sister, according court documents.
Ivan Salinas said he and Torres struggled over the weapon, but he slipped and Torres fired two more shots through the passenger window, according to the affidavit.
Areli Soto, Ivan Salinas' girlfriend, told police she was in the driver's seat of the Tahoe and Norma Salinas was sitting in the front passenger seat. Torres' and Norma Salinas' 1-year-old daughter was in the back seat, according to court documents.
Soto told police after Torres fired the gun, Norma Salinas turned to her and said "He shot me," according to court document.
Benton County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested Torres on Cotton Lane near Gateway.
Police were able to recover the gun they believe was used in the shooting, according to court documents.
NW News on 04/06/2018