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Mexican woman enters plea to possessing firearm used in Salina teen’s death

Azucena Garcia-Ferniza
Azucena Garcia-Ferniza

WICHITA, KAN. – A Mexican woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to unlawful possession of a firearm connected to a homicide case in Salina, according to acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

The woman, Azucena Garcia-Ferniza, 22, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm while unlawfully in the United States. In her plea, she admitted that on May 7, 2015, she unlawfully possessed a Glock model 30 .45 caliber pistol. Her visitor’s visa had expired in February 1998.

In July 2016, Garcia-Ferniza was sentenced in Saline County District Court to18 months on probation for attempting to hide the gun that killed 17-year-old Allie Saum. The gun belonged to her boyfriend, Macio D. Palicio, Jr. Saum was killed by gunfire when Palicio fired at a pickup he mistakenly believed was driven by rival gang members.

Palicio was convicted in Saline County District Court and sentenced to more than 50 years for the killing.

Garcia-Ferniza’s sentencing is set for Jan. 4. She has been in custody since August 2015.

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