New judge assigned in St. Johns boy's case

ST. JOHNS, Ariz. - A new judge has been assigned to hear the case of a 9-year-old eastern Arizona boy awaiting sentencing in the shooting death of his father's roommate.

Greenlee County Superior Court Judge Monica Stauffer now will oversee the case.

Friday's announcement comes two days after Apache County Superior Court Judge Michael Roca was removed after the boy's attorney contended Roca was biased.

Another judge disqualified Roca, citing private conversations Roca had with two juvenile probation officials about the case.

Stauffer's main task will be to sentence the boy, who pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in the roommate's death. Prosecutors dropped charges against the boy in his father's death as part of a plea deal.

A status conference is set for Dec. 3 in St. Johns.