San Diego
A judge refused Friday to lower the $1-million bail for an Imperial Beach man accused of using a hunting rifle to shoot a 12-year-old Mexican boy at the border.
Dwight Ray Pannel, 23, is charged with murder in the May 18 shooting death of Emilio Jiminez Bejines, who had just crossed the international border with his family.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Luis Aragon said during Friday’s bail review hearing that his office has a statement from a person who quoted Pannel as saying he had robbed some Mexican immigrants earlier in the day for beer money.
In refusing to lower the bail, Municipal Judge Robert C. Coates said that Pannel had proven himself to have “very low integrity.” The judge said Pannel is “someone who has behaved with contempt for human safety, life and dignity.”
A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Jan. 25.
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