Dad charged in killing gets new attorneys

BENTONVILLE — A conflict led to new attorneys being appointed for a Bella Vista man accused of killing his 6-year-old son.

Mauricio Alejandro Torres, 45, and Cathy Torres, 43, the boy’s mother, are charged with capital murder and first-degree battery. They have pleaded innocent to the charges. Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for both.

Their son was pronounced dead at a hospital March 29. A medical examiner later determined Maurice Isaiah Torres suffered from chronic child abuse, and his death was from internal injuries caused by being raped.

Mauricio Torres appeared in court Wednesday to get new legal representation.

Three attorneys from the Arkansas Public Defender Commission were appointed to represent him after his arrest. Teri Chambers, one of the attorneys, told Circuit Judge Brad Karren that there is a conflict that prevents them from continuing to represent Torres.

Chambers did not feel comfortable disclosing the reason in open court. Chambers did say if they remained on the case it would cause irreparable harm to Torres.

Nathan Smith, Benton County prosecuting attorney, did not object to the change.

Karren was reluctant to let the three off the case, saying the switch would cause a delay in the trial.

Smith intends to try Mauricio Torres first. His jury trial is set to begin Jan. 12. A pre-trial hearing will be Jan. 11.

Bill James and Jeff Rosenzweig now represent Mauricio Torres. They were not in court Wednesday. Karren asked Torres if he objected to the attorney change and Torres said no.

Cathy Torres’ jury trial is set to begin Jan. 26. A pretrial hearing is set for Jan. 25.

The Torreses also were arrested in connection with rape, but prosecutors didn’t include that offense in the charging documents. The rape occurred in Missouri, not in Benton County, Smith said.

Smith previously said his office did not have jurisdiction to charge the couple with rape. The office has jurisdiction in the murder case because the boy died in Benton County, Smith said.

The Torreses are being held without bail in the Benton County jail.