Man pleads not guilty to Yakima River Canyon shooting death

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (AP) — A Washington state man has pleaded not guilty in the shooting death of a woman whose body was found in the Yakima River Canyon.

The Yakima Herald reports that 24-year-old Christopher Almaral pleaded not guilty on Monday to a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Stephanie Curtis.

Kittitas County Sheriff Office investigators say the 34-year-old Curtis had been found dead Jan. 7 with two gunshot wounds.

A probable cause statement says detectives tied alleged gang activity by Almaral to Curtis’ death.

Almaral remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.