Trial moves forward for murder suspects
Nearly two years after corrections counselor Benny Alcala Jr. was shot and killed in a Target parking lot on Stockdale Highway, the trial for the two men suspected of killing him moved forward Monday in Kern County Superior Court.
Robert Roberts, 31, is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree attempted robbery and possessing a firearm as a felon after he is suspected of killing 43-year-old Alcala on Aug. 24, 2022.
Sebastian Parra, 24, is charged with murder and second-degree robbery. Parra was not originally charged with Alcala’s murder but after he testified in Roberts’ preliminary hearing, a Kern County grand jury indicted him. Two members of the grand jury sat in the gallery during Monday’s proceedings.
Roberts and Parra have pleaded not guilty.
Monday’s court hearing began in Department 1 of Kern County Superior Court where Roberts stood next to his lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Gordon Lake, and Parra stood with his defense attorney, Tim Hennessy. Lake and Hennessy both announced they were ready to start the trial.
Alcala’s family came to the hearing Monday when prosecutor John Allen announced he was ready for the trial, but Allen said he hoped the court could accommodate his schedule.
Roberts’ and Parra’s case has been postponed for months for various reasons. Roberts originally was represented by a different public defender, Lexi Blythe, but the case was assigned to Lake after she moved. Hennessy was engaged in a federal trial that concluded in February and several other trials when he returned to Kern County.
The trial was moved to Department 2 where Allan, Lake and Hennessy spoke to the judge in chambers. Members of Roberts’ family sat in the hallway while they awaited the case.
Judge Judith Dulcich will oversee the case and discussed schedule conflicts Monday with both defense attorneys and the prosecutor. She recognized Allen’s time conflict next Monday and with the court closure for Juneteenth on June 19, she said she expects jury selection to begin June 24.
The attorneys will continue discussing several motions filed with the court throughout the week. Roberts and Parra remain in custody without bail.