Man Pleads Not Guilty to Murder of Mexican Boy
An Imperial Beach man pleaded not guilty Thursday to murdering a 12-year-old Mexican boy last May as the youth walked along a border hillside on his way to visit his parents’ home in Orange County.
Dwight Ray Pannel, 23, a laborer, was ordered held in County Jail on $1-million bail.
Pannel is accused of firing the shot that killed Emilio Jimenez Bejines on May 18. The bullet struck him in the head around 3:30 p.m. He and two siblings and an uncle had just crossed the border and were on their way to the home of the boy’s parents in Stanton.
Pannel’s bail will be reviewed at a hearing on Dec. 28. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Jan. 25.
Neither Deputy Dist. Atty. Luis Aragon or Pannel’s attorney could be reached for comment Thursday.
Last May, another man, Leonard Cuen, 21, was arrested in connection with the slaying, but he was not charged.
Investigators said they believe that the fatal shot was fired from Cuen’s home but that it was Pannel, who was visiting Cuen, who fired the rifle.
Pannel was arrested on Wednesday.
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