Judge rejects release of Mireles

A Mexican federal judge rejected a request to release José Manuel Mireles Valverde, one of the founders of the self-defense forces of the state of Michoacán, and who has been in prison since June, 2014.

Judge Jorge Armando Wong Aceituno said that the request presented by Mireles' defense team has no justification and he will remain in the maximum security prison of the city of Hermosillo, Sonora.

Ignacio Mendoza Jiménez, lawyer of Mireles, told EFE that the decision will be appealed before the federal judiciary because he was found in possession of weapons authorized by the authorities.

Mireles, a doctor by trade, was arrested in Acalpican in possession of assault rifles registered before the Ministry of Defense and used in the combat against the Caballeros Templarios cartel.

Mireles is one of the leaders of the self-defense organizations that rose on February 24, 2013, against the drug dealing gangs in the state of Michoacán.