Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Chezerae Arrellin Jr., 20, of Safford, winks to the camera as he is led back to jail. Arrellin had a preliminary hearing on Wednesday in which he was bound over to Superior Court on fentanyl charges. Arrellin is also a “person of interest” in the June 23 fatal shooting of Adam Christopher Avalos.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – The man at the center of the Copper Springs RV Park homicide investigation was bound over to Graham County Superior Court Wednesday on unrelated drug charges.
Chezerae Arrellin Jr., of Safford, recently celebrated his 20th birthday in jail after being picked up in Yuma on a warrant for his arrest regarding a petition to revoke his probation. Arrellin has been identified as a “person of interest” in the fatal shooting of Adam Christopher Avalos, 31, on June 23.
Regarding the homicide, officers were initially dispatched at about 9:37 p.m. to 326 S. 8th Ave. in the Copper Springs RV Park regarding a shooting. Upon arrival, officers were advised a victim had been shot and located Avalos deceased in the parking area of the residence. The area was cordoned off for the rest of the night and into the following day, and investigators put up a temporary “command post” nearby.
Arrellin was sought by police officers that night but wasn’t found until he was located in Yuma four days later. was booked into the Yuma County Jail on warrants from Graham County Superior Court to revoke his probation regarding two other cases. One case was initiated in 2022 regarding the theft of a credit card and fraudulent use of a credit card, and the second case involved possession of a weapon by a prohibited person, which was initiated in 2023.
On Wednesday, Arrellin appeared in front of Graham County Justice Court Judge Wyatt J. Palmer for a preliminary hearing regarding charges of possession of a narcotic drug, possession of a narcotic drug for sale, and transportation of a narcotic drug. A fourth count – possession of drug paraphernalia – was withdrawn by Graham County Chief Deputy County Attorney C. Allan Perkins due to insufficient evidence. Perkins presented one witness, Arizona Department of Public Safety Detective Brayden McBride, who testified regarding the state’s belief of Arrellin’s involvement in fentanyl sales through counterfeit Oxycodone pills.
The drug case stems from an Arizona Department of Public Safety investigation into Arrellin, which included undercover drug purchases, surveillance, and the arrest of associates.
Detective McBride testified of viewing what he believed to be two drug transactions involving Arrellin on June 14. In the second transaction, a group of three individuals whom Arrellin and an associate allegedly provided with Oxycodone pills were found in possession of those pills in a subsequent traffic stop.
Perkins argued the case should move forward due to those facts and because it was “clear that this is part of an ongoing investigation and that there are other moving pieces here but we believe as to probable cause as to this incident there is sufficient evidence . . .”
However, Arrellin’s attorney, Kevin Crowley of the Grand Canyon Law Group, of Mesa, argued that there was no evidence his client was involved in a drug transaction and therefore was no probable cause to move the case forward to the Superior Court.
“The officer testified that he saw a cash exchange between two other parties – not Mr. Arrellin,” Crowley said. “The drugs were found later, in this car. She said that she got them from Mr. Hernandez and nobody mentioned they got it from Mr. Arrellin. There’s no evidence that he actually sold the drugs or possessed them at any time. So, for that reason, we ask that you find that there is no probable cause here and you dismiss the case.”
Judge Palmer found probable cause to move forward and set Arrellin’s arraignment date for Tuesday, July 30, at 10 a.m. in Graham County Superior Court.
Arrellin also faces petitions to revoke his probation, and he is still a person of interest in the murder case.
