The bill introduced in memory of Grant Ronnebeck, who was killed by an illegal alien while working the night shift at a QuickTrip store in Mesa in January 2015, was killed today on the floor of the Arizona House of Representatives by a handful of Republicans who joined all of the Democrats in opposition.
Rep. Vince Leach voted no on the bill in order to allow it to be brought back for consideration tomorrow. Only representatives who vote on the “winning” side of a bill can ask that one be brought back for another vote.
The bill, SB1377, which was introduced by Senator Steve Smith, “requires courts to sentence persons convicted of a misdemeanor or felony to the maximum term of imprisonment or full presumptive sentence if it is determined that a U.S. immigration offense was an aggravating factor and makes such persons ineligible for probation, suspension of sentence, community supervision, commutation or release on any basis until the sentence imposed is served,” according to the legislative overview.
Related article: Mesa QT clerk murderer is in the country illegally
| Member Name | Vote | Member Name | Vote | Member Name | Vote |
| J. Christopher Ackerley | N | John M. Allen | Y | Lela Alston | N |
| Richard C. Andrade | N | Brenda Barton | Y | Jennifer D. Benally | N |
| Reginald Bolding Jr. | N | Sonny Borrelli | Y | Russell “Rusty” Bowers | Y |
| Paul Boyer | Y | Kate Brophy McGee | N | Noel W. Campbell | Y |
| Mark A. Cardenas | N | Heather Carter | N | Ken Clark | N |
| Regina Cobb | Y | Doug Coleman | N | Diego Espinoza | N |
| Karen Fann | Y | Eddie Farnsworth | Y | Charlene R. Fernandez | N |
| Mark Finchem | Y | Randall Friese | N | Rosanna Gabaldón | N |
| Sally Ann Gonzales | N | Rick Gray | Y | Albert Hale | N |
| Anthony Kern | Y | Matthew A. Kopec | N | Jonathan R. Larkin | N |
| Jay Lawrence | Y | Vince Leach | N | David Livingston | Y |
| Phil Lovas | Y | Stefanie Mach | N | Debbie McCune Davis | N |
| Juan Jose Mendez | N | Javan D. “J.D.” Mesnard | Y | Eric Meyer | N |
| Darin Mitchell | Y | Steve Montenegro | Y | Jill Norgaard | Y |
| Justin Olson | Y | Lisa A. Otondo | N | Warren H. Petersen | Y |
| Celeste Plumlee | N | Franklin M. Pratt | N | Rebecca Rios | N |
| Tony Rivero | N | Bob Robson | Y | Macario Saldate | N |
| Thomas “T.J.” Shope | N | David W. Stevens | Y | Bob Thorpe | Y |
| Kelly Townsend | Y | Michelle B. Ugenti-Rita | Y | Ceci Velasquez | N |
| Jeff Weninger | Y | Bruce Wheeler | N | David M. Gowan Sr. | Y |
| AYES | 28 | NAYS | 32 | NOT VOTING | 0 |
Apolinar Altamirano, age 29, shot the young Ronnebeck as he was counting the change Altamirano had spilled on the counter to pay for his cigarettes. While Ronnebeck was counting the change, Altamirano pulled out a gun and opened fire.
Altamirano, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with burglary in 2012, but the County Attorney’s office allowed him to plead guilty to an amended charge of facilitation to commit burglary and he was placed on probation for two years. A judge had ordered notification of U.S. immigration officials, and Altamirano was given bond by federal immigration authorities after pleading guilty to the lesser charge.