FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — The man accused of killing New River pastor Bill Schonemann was back in court Monday in Flagstaff. Adam Sheafe is accused of not only killing Pastor Bill but also plotting to kill 13 other pastors.
Monday was supposed to be a scheduling conference with Sheafe’s team, who wanted to move to trial. However, prosecutors now want to focus on his murder charges and transport him to Maricopa County.
This marked Sheafe’s second appearance in Coconino County Superior Court. The reason he’s in court in northern Arizona is that he’s being held on charges related to crimes committed in Sedona that led up to his arrest on April 29, involving seven felony counts, including burglary charges and fleeing from police.
However, local prosecutors shared Monday that they’ve been in close communication with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office regarding Sheafe’s murder charges in the Schonemann case.
“Our office anticipates that those charges will take precedence over this case,” the prosecutor said. “The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has or will be filing a motion to transport the defendant. The state will not be objecting. Our office will not be objecting to that motion of transport.”
However, Sheafe’s attorney did not agree to an immediate transfer.
“Judge, we object to a motion to transport,” Sheafe’s attorney said. “We ask to set these matters for trial.”
Because Sheafe’s team objected to the transport, a new court date was set for July 15 in Flagstaff, allowing Maricopa County two weeks to submit the transfer request. We’ll see if that request is granted at his next appearance.
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