Marine charged in weekend shooting death

A felony complaint of manslaughter has been filed in Yuma Justice Court against a man arrested in connection with the shooting death of a Yuma woman.

Yuma Justice of the Peace David Cooper on Tuesday set bond at $147,265 for Joseph Andrew Mandel, 22, in the death of 27-year-old Kezia Clinkscales.
 
Clinkscales died at Yuma Regional Medical Center after being shot shortly after 7:30 p.m. Friday in her apartment in the Rio Santa Fe Apartments, 1600 W. 12th St., according to Yuma police.
 
Mandel, who was in the apartment at the time of the shooting, was taken to the police department for questioning, and later arrested and booked into the jail.
 
Clinkscales' stepfather and her husband appeared in court Tuesday to read statements to the court that reflected their pain in losing her.
 
"I have a hard time believing this was an accident. In my view the man killed my daughter," said stepfather David Houser, referring to Mandel's training in weapons as a Marine. "If the death penalty was an option in this case, I would be in favor of it."
 
Mandel is a private serving with the Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 at the Marine Corps Air Station.

Clinkscales' estranged husband, Antwone, said, "He deserves to sit in a cell by himself and think about what he has done. If there is any divine justice then you will kill yourself.
 
"And yes, we had intentions of getting back together, but that will never happen now," he added.
 
Cooper ordered his bond remain at the amount he had set during the man's initial appearance on Saturday.
 
A native of Sugarland, Texas, Mandel has been stationed at MCAS Yuma since November 2006. He joined the Corps in February 2006 and was a vehicle mechanic.
 
"It is in the hands of civilian authorities since it happened off base," said Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon of the MCAS public affairs office. "The Marine Corps will cooperate fully with civilian authorities any way it can."
 
Cooper originally raised the bond to $200,000 at the request of the prosecution, but lowered it back to its original amount - $147,265 -  at the request of a Mandel's attorney via telephone.
 
Mandel's attorney said that if Mandel does post bond he will be restricted to base since he is serving at MCAS Yuma.
 
Cooper also scheduled a condition of release hearing for Wednesday, as well as scheduling Mandel's next court date, a preliminary hearing at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. 


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James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.