Mcquilliams returns to Idaho Falls

A man accused of shooting his girlfriend dead in a New Year’s Day party arrived in Idaho Falls from California on Thursday night.

Charges against Kevin Mcquilliams, 25, of Pocatello were amended to aggravated assault with an enhancement of association with a criminal gang, involuntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon enhancement and unlawful possession of a firearm with a deadly weapon enhancement, the Bonneville County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Mcquilliams was arraigned before Magistrate Judge Gilman Gardener on Friday afternoon via closed-circuit television from the Bonneville County Jail.

The charges come after an incident Jan 1 at a house in the 900 block of South Emerson. A fight broke out at the party when a group arrived there. Police said during the fight, Mcquilliams fired a gun, and the bullet struck and killed his girlfriend, AnnaRae Ponce, 34. Mcquilliams did not mean to kill Ponce, officers said.

Mcquilliams was arrested in Truckee, California, later that day.