Woman accused of taking part in deputy killing has arrest history dating to 2016

Arlene Piña, the 20-year-old woman arrested this weekend in connection to the killing of an El paso Sheriff Deputy has a criminal history dating back to 2016, when she was 17.

Piña stands charged with capital murder of a peace officer, the latest in a long series of charges.
Records show Piña’s first arrest was back in July 2016.

El Paso Police charged her with possession of marijuana, less than 2 ounces, possession of two un-prescribed anti anxiety pills and other substances. The charges were dismissed.

In 2017 she allegedly sold weed to undercover officers, and faced three separate charges. Two separate times in November and once in December. Those charges were also dismissed.

Court records also show a history with accused shooter Facundo Chavez. She called police in September 2018 and said Chavez had thrown and shattered her phone. He was then arrested for criminal mischief.

The latest charges are for manufacturing or possession of a controlled substance. She was indicted December 2018 and pled guilty March 14, 2019.

“There’s many minor offenses. The most significant one is distribution of a criminal substance, where she was given five years probation. She’s currently on probation for that right now,” Sheriff RIchard Wiles told reporters Saturday.

That probation began March 14. She was set for 300 hours of community service and 90 days in jail, and levied a one thousand dollar fine.

Eight days after her probation began would be the fatal traffic stop and shooting.