Man accused in slaying faces new gun charge

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A man charged with murder was caught illegally owning a gun as an undocumented immigrant two years before he allegedly shot a Salt Lake City woman to death, police say. But the weapons charges were not filed until Monday.

Delfino Arriaga-Luna, accused of killing 19-year-old Stephanie Williams over a drug dispute, was approached by Salt Lake City police in June 2008 after a report that he was arguing with someone and had a gun, police wrote in the new charges.

Arriaga-Luna allowed the officer to search his bedroom, where a 9 mm handgun was found, police wrote. Arriaga then told the officer he was not a U.S. citizen and had no residence papers, police wrote.

Utah law forbids illegal immigrants from possessing guns.

Arriaga-Luna was charged Monday with possession of a firearm by a restricted person, a third-degree felony. The charging documents do not indicate why the charges were filed more than two years after the gun was found.

Police late Monday had no additional information on the case. Prosecutors said they received the case this month.

Arriaga-Luna is awaiting trial on charges stemming from Williams' death April 4. Police say he has confessed to shooting Williams twice in the head with a .40-caliber handgun at Williams' home near 800 West and 300 North. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree felony murder, third-degree felony possessing and transferring a firearm by a restricted person and obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony.