Pubdate: Sat, 28 August 1999 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register Contact: http://www.ocregister.com/ Author: The Associated Press SIDEKICK HELD IN MEXICAN TV HOST'S SLAYING Mexico City - An onstage sidekick was arrested Friday in connection with the murder of one of Mexico's most popular television entertainers. Four others were also arrested in the slaying of Paco Stanley, while a suspected drug trafficker was accused of ordering the killing. Mario Bezares, who had been under house arrest since last month, was detained at his home and taken to a Mexico City jail, the city Attorney General's Office said. An arrest warrant was issued for suspected drug trafficker Luis Amezcua for allegedly ordering Stanley's killing because of a drug debt, the city's chief prosecutor, Samuel del Villar, said. Amezcua is already imprisoned in Mexico City while fighting a U.S. extradition request on drug-smuggling charges. Stanley, the humorous host of a popular morning variety program, was gunned down June 7 in a brazen midday attack along a busy Mexico City freeway. Bezares, frequently the butt of Stanley's heavy-handed humor, initially came under suspicion because he remained behind in a restaurant bathroom while Stanley walked out to his car, where he was slain. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D