GiveSendGo donations help Arizona rancher George Alan Kelly post $1M bail after campaign raises 40% of amount
KINO SPRINGS, ARIZONA: Arizona rancher George Alan Kelly, who is facing murder along with additional charges, received bail on Thursday, February 23, after reportedly paying a $1 million surety bond, warranted by his ranch. It has been said that his loved ones have also managed to raise $398,294 for him via GiveSendGo after GoFundMe took down his fundraising page.
The 73-year-old George Alan Kelly was arrested after a January 30 incident that allegedly resulted in the death of a Mexican national. The old man is accused of gunning down Gabriel Cuen-Butimea after he, along with other migrants, was seen on his property. Though Kelly has maintained that he did not directly shoot at Cuen-Butimea and just fired warning shots to intimidate the men, prosecutors claim he killed an “innocent man in the back as he fled for his life”.
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Also, Deputy County Attorney Kimberly Hunley stated, “This type of unprovoked attack presents a significant danger to the victims and community.” But the suspect's lawyer Brenna Larkin reportedly argued, "There was no bullet. There were no witnesses. But the government jumps the gun and decides to charge premeditated first-degree murder. This lit a match over a very intense political powder keg and predictably there was an explosion. This case has been highly publicized, highly politicized. People have already prejudged this case very loudly," as reported by Daily Mail.
What is GiveSendGo?
GoFundMe had reportedly shut down pages supporting Kelly. A spokesperson for the crowdfunding platform told Fox News Digital, “GoFundMe’s Terms of Service explicitly prohibit campaigns that raise money to cover the legal defense of anyone formally charged with an alleged violent crime. Consistent with this long-standing policy, any fundraising campaigns for the legal defense of someone charged with murder are removed from our platform. Donors who contributed to the fundraising campaigns for George Alan Kelly’s legal expenses have been fully refunded.”
But GiveSendGo did not follow GoFundMe’s footsteps after gaining attention during the Canadian trucker protest. It describes itself as a Christian crowdfunding website and claims “not to take one side or another politically, but in the middle of a divided political culture, we were to be focused on the very reason we started GiveSendGo: to share the Hope of Jesus through crowdfunding with everyone who comes to our platform. That continues to be our focus as we stand for freedom.”
‘We will not take down campaigns based on own biases’
Its co-founder Heather Wilson also speak of Kelly’s case and noted, “This is exactly why GiveSendGo exists. To allow people to have a voice and gain support in times of need. At this time [we] do not know any more than what is being shared on the news, but we do know that in our country a legal defense is not just for the wealthy.”
“We will continue to allow the raising of funds for legal defense on GiveSendGo, as the presumption of innocent until proven guilty is a bedrock to our Justice system. We understand we are not the judge and jury; we will not take down campaigns based on own biases. We will be praying for all involved,” she added.
Besides, a message on the GiveSendGo supporting Kelly read, “George and Wanda Kelly are so grateful for all your support and donations. When we come together and stand up for what is right we MAKE a difference! They still have a long road ahead of them. Please continue to support George. God Bless.”