Man charged in Marion Oaks barbershop murder agrees to stay in jail until trial
The defense did not contest the state's request for the pre-trial detention of Melvin Arias, the man charged in the shooting death of Milagros Guzman Lopez, a hair stylist in Marion Oaks.
Arias' lawyer, Brenda Smith, told the court on May 2 that the defense is not saying Arias committed the crime or is in any way guilty. It simply does not contest the state's request to hold Arias without bail pending trial.
When someone is charged with a violent crime, such as murder, then prosecutors typically will file a motion seeking pre-trial detention. That triggers a hearing, which must be scheduled within five days of when prosecutors announce their intent in front of a judge.
Circuit Judge Robert Hodges agreed with Assistant State Attorney Adam Smith that Arias, 34, of Inverness, should remain locked up pending trial.
The judge said Arias poses a flight risk, noting that he's from the Dominican Republic and is not a U.S. citizen. The judge also said Arias is a danger to the community.
Jan. 12 shooting
Arias is charged with second-degree murder in the Jan. 12 shooting death of Milagros Guzman Lopez. Sheriff's detectives say the 47-year-old woman was shot multiple times in front of the Marion Oaks barbershop where she worked.
Witnesses told detectives Lopez and a woman were arguing over $5,000 when Arias appeared with an assault rifle. The witnesses, who identified Arias as the shooter, said they heard gunshots and then saw Lopez was on the ground.
A cellphone recorded the shooting and the video was recovered by deputies. From the video, authorities heard a woman's voice calling Arias by name and asking him why he did it.
Both the shooter and the woman fled in a vehicle. Arias was later apprehended in an apartment in The Bronx, New York, and eventually extradited back to Marion.
At Thursday's hearing, the cellphone video was shown. People can be heard arguing in Spanish. Later, a man is seen holding a long rifle by his side. The man, who spoke Spanish, is also heard arguing.
After a few minutes, there was the sound of multiple gunshots and a vehicle driving away.
A man is seen crying and screaming and then the video ends. The prosecutor said the video is longer, but only a small portion was played for the hearing.
The judge told Arias if convicted he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
A horrific day: Man arrested in fatal Jan. 12 shooting outside Marion Oaks barbershop
Arias' next court hearing will be a pre-trial conference.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Defense agrees to pre-trial detention in Marion Oaks barbershop murder
