MURDER SUSPECT'S EXTRADITION DELAYED.

Byline: ANGIE VALENCIA-MARTINEZ Staff Writer

Law enforcement officials Monday said it could take years before the man accused of killing Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy David March is brought back to the U.S. to face justice.

Jorge Arroyo Garcia, suspected of fatally shooting the Santa Clarita Valley man on April 29, 2002, during a traffic stop in Irwindale, was captured in Mexico earlier this year.

While authorities first were optimistic they could bring Garcia back within a year, the extradition process has turned into a waiting game.

``It could be a matter of years. We don't know,'' said Los Angeles County district attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons. ``It could be a long, long time. It may be quicker than we think. At this point I'm not going to hold out hope for anybody.''

Extradition documents were sent to Mexican authorities in mid-April, and so far there has been no response, Gibbons said. The courts there have an unlimited amount of time to review the case and make a recommendation, which Garcia can appeal.

``The whole system has been frustrating,'' said March's widow, Teri. ``It's not going to come easy. Anything is better than his freedom. I'm hanging on to being grateful for that.

``If it takes two years, I can wait two years. I waited four years for him to be captured.''

Garcia, 29, was at-large until his capture by Mexican authorities in February.

The Mexican national, a convicted drug dealer also wanted for two attempted murders, faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

District Attorney Steve Cooley agreed not to seek the death penalty in order to have Garcia extradited from Mexico, which -- under a Mexican Supreme Court ruling from last year -- refuses to extradite murder suspects to the U.S. who face the death penalty.

The decision could affect more than 700 suspects in California crimes believed to have fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution.

angie.valencia(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- ran in Valley edition only) MARCH

(2 -- color -- ran in SAC edition only) GARCIA