Overview
- After nearly 18 hours of hearings on Jan. 13–14, a Sonora judge issued an auto de imputación to the Waldo’s branch and imputed eight people for homicide and related offenses tied to the Nov. 1 explosion that killed 24.
- Seven individuals will face proceedings in freedom under periodic check‑ins, a financial guarantee and travel restrictions, with the court citing proven community ties and no risk to victims or the investigation.
- Preventive detention was ordered for the company’s legal representative, José Luis “N.”, over alleged use of false documents to obtain permits, but the measure was not executed because he holds an amparo that prosecutors say they will challenge.
- Prosecutors detailed 553 investigative actions, including 150 expert reports with input from UNAM, IPN and risk‑management professionals, outlining alleged maintenance omissions since 2022, ignored technical warnings, improper transformer oil and a purportedly apocryphal Protección Civil report.
- Next steps include a Jan. 19 hearing on vinculación a proceso for those already imputed, additional warrants to execute with three more cited for Jan. 29, a dozen cases paused by amparo suspensions, two people reportedly evading justice and a referral to the FGR for potential federal crimes.