A former Democratic state representative from Arizona, Mark Anthony De Simone, was charged with murder on Monday after he allegedly shot and killed a man in Alaska.
De Simone resigned from the Arizona legislature in 2008 after just a year in office because he was arrested on domestic violence charges. He allegedly shot a man twice in the head Sunday night at a cabin in Excursion Inlet, Alaska.
Duilio Antonio “Tony” Rosales, a 34-year-old jeweler and resident of Juneau, was found by police Sunday. Witnesses detained De Simone and called the Coast Guard after he confessed to the crime.
Court records show De Simone has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder, plus one count each of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.
“Our investigation is ongoing but our preliminary research suggests [De Simone] was a former state legislator in Arizona,” said Assistant District Attorney Amy Paige.
On Tuesday, De Simone made an initial court appearance in Juneau District Court. Paige said she requested a total bail of $1 million for De Simone, but that amount was cut in half by the judge.
Prosecutors believe De Simone, who reportedly grew up in Juneau, was working for a jewelry store in the city.
De Simone was arrested by Phoenix police in 2008 for allegedly holding his wife down and punching her. That misdemeanor assault charge was dropped after he resigned from the legislature and agreed to undergo counseling.
