Why It Matters
In Arizona, the removal of a defense attorney from a high-profile capital murder case has thrown Pinal County’s criminal justice system into disarray, raising serious questions about defendants’ constitutional rights, prosecutorial conduct, and the integrity of the death penalty process. The legal chaos surrounding the case of Alec Perez — charged in connection with a brutal quadruple murder in Casa Grande — illustrates the systemic vulnerabilities that can derail capital cases and leave victims’ families waiting nearly a decade for resolution.
When the legal machinery breaks down in death penalty cases, the consequences ripple outward. Courts face lengthy delays, taxpayers absorb mounting costs, and the prospect of a fair trial becomes increasingly uncertain for all parties involved.
What Happened
On October 5, 2017, four people were attacked inside a one-story apartment building in Casa Grande, Arizona. Justin Yates was shot in the head outside the unit. Jose Aguilera and Connie Carrerra, asleep on a couch inside, were both shot and had their throats cut. The primary target, Crysta Proctor, 29, was stabbed 28 times in the bedroom. Her face was slashed from her eye to her neck, and a finger was nearly severed from defending herself.
Police arrested Alec Perez and his associate Rodney Ortiz, Jr., almost immediately after the killings. Perez had been arrested seven times in the preceding months on charges related to stalking and assaulting Proctor. She had an active order of protection against him and was attempting to relocate out of Pinal County or out of Arizona entirely when she was killed. The others present in the apartment that morning were there to help protect her and assist with her move.
Perez confessed to the killings. Given the number and severity of aggravating factors, prosecutors pursued the death penalty. A Pinal County Superior Court judge assigned attorney Matthew Long as Perez’s lead defense counsel.
The case did not move efficiently through the courts. Capital cases in Arizona routinely take five or more years to reach trial, but this one approached the seven-year mark before a significant disruption occurred. In late 2024, prosecutors presented evidence to the presiding judge suggesting that Long lacked the qualifications required under Arizona court rules to serve as lead counsel in a capital case. Long disputed the allegation. Nevertheless, he was removed as lead attorney in November 2024 and taken off the case entirely within a few months. Adding another layer of complexity, Long had previously worked as a prosecutor — meaning the attorneys now seeking his removal were once his colleagues.
By the Numbers
- 4 — victims killed in the October 2017 Casa Grande attack
- 28 — number of stab wounds inflicted on primary victim Crysta Proctor
- 7 — times Alec Perez had been arrested for stalking and assaulting Proctor in the months before the murders
- 7+ years — approximate time elapsed since the 2017 killings without the case reaching trial
- November 2024 — the month Long was formally removed as lead defense counsel
Zoom Out
Arizona is one of 27 states that retain capital punishment, and the state has long grappled with the administrative and legal burdens that death penalty cases place on county court systems. Pinal County, located between Phoenix and Tucson and home to roughly 430,000 residents, does not have the same legal infrastructure as Maricopa County to absorb the demands of complex capital litigation.
The issue of attorney qualifications in capital cases is not unique to Arizona. Across the United States, courts and bar associations have increasingly scrutinized whether defense attorneys in death penalty proceedings meet minimum competency standards established by the American Bar Association and individual state rules. When those standards are not met — or are challenged late in proceedings — the result is frequently mistrial motions, appeals, and years of additional delay.
The removal of a defense attorney after years of preparation also raises Sixth Amendment concerns about a defendant’s right to continuity of counsel, a legal issue that could generate grounds for appeal regardless of the ultimate verdict.
What’s Next
With Long removed from the case, Pinal County Superior Court must now oversee the assignment of new qualified capital defense counsel for Perez. That transition alone is expected to require substantial time, as new attorneys will need to review years of case materials, interview the defendant, and potentially re-examine forensic and testimonial evidence.
Legal observers expect the case to face additional pretrial motions challenging the circumstances of Long’s removal and questioning whether prosecutorial conduct during the qualification dispute compromised Perez’s right to a fair trial. Any significant ruling on those motions could further extend the timeline or, in extreme circumstances, lead to the dismissal of the death penalty designation. For the families of the four victims, justice in the Casa Grande killings remains years away.