Mauricio Sanchez-Johnson, the suspect in this month’s Bear River Rancheria triple homicide, and Von Eric Keener, the man who fled with Sanchez-Johnson after the crime, both appeared today virtually in the 3rd District courtroom of Tooele County, Utah presided over by Judge Dianna Gibson.
When it was 18-year-old Sanchez-Johnson’s turn to sit before Judge Gibson, the corrections officer could be heard asking another, “Can you grab the kid?” Sanchez-Johnson subsequently appeared alongside Public Defender Brad Schofield who requested time to be able to meet with his client because “I was just assigned the case yesterday.”
Judge Gibson approved the request and scheduled the next hearing for March 2, 2021, at 3:30 p.m. In response, Sanchez-Johnson simply replied, “Alright.”
Judge Gibson was confused as to who Sanchez-Johnson’s representative was due to the fact Lake County Criminal Defense Attorney Anakalia “Andrea” Kaluna Sullivan would be taking up the case.
According to Sullivan, she met with Sanchez-Johnson in the Tooele County Detention Facility yesterday and clarified Public Defender Schoefield’s role was to facilitate his extradition back to Humboldt County.
46-year-old Von Eric Keener spoke directly to Judge Gibson who had Keener attest to his understanding that he was waiving his right to extradition. He asked Judge Gibson whether signing the documents meant authorities could come at any time to return him to Humboldt County. She told him yes and scheduled another meeting with him on March 23 to ensure he had been extradited to Humboldt County.
Sullivan said in an interview she met with Sanchez-Johnson between “60-90 minutes” and described him as “a regular teenage kid, there’s nothing unusual.” Sullivan wanted to clarify that despite rumors, Sanchez Johnson did not have a relationship with Shelly Moon, the 16-year-old who died in the February 10 triple homicide.
Andrea Sullivan has provided criminal defense to other Humboldt County residents. Currently, she also represents Demetrius Coleman who was convicted of perpetrating a fatal drive-by shooting killing 26-year-old Mark Renfro in Rio Dell on August 29, 2019. Sullivan is representing Coleman as he seeks a new murder trial after claiming he received ineffective counsel on his last one where he was found guilty.
Sanchez-Lopez is accused of the February 10 shooting and killing of three Bear River Rancheria residents, including his friend, 16-year-old Shelly Mae Autumn Moon, Shelly’s mother Margarett Lee Moon, and Margarett’s 40-year-old fiance Nikki Dion Metcalf.
Sanchez-Johnson fled Humboldt County accompanied by Keener and an unidentified woman. The group was arrested in Utah on Interstate 80 after officers deployed spike strips to halt their pursuit. Currently, Sanchez-Johnson and Keener are incarcerated in the same detention center awaiting a decision on whether they will be extradited to Humboldt County.
Earlier Chapters
- Suspect in Bear River Rancheria Triple Homicide Arraigned Today in a Utah Courtroom
- 18-Year-Old Suspected of Bear River Triple Homicide Apprehended in Utah After Vehicle Pursuit
- Triple Homicide on Bear River Rancheria in Humboldt County
