Hearing set Tuesday in CDCR counselor’s slaying
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Two men accused in the shooting death of a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation counselor are scheduled to appear in court Tuesday to see if attorneys are ready for trial.
Robert Pernell Roberts, 30, and Sebastian Parra, 24, are charged with murder and attempted robbery in the death of Benny Alcala Jr., 43.
Defense attorneys previously said April was the earliest they’d be ready. At an earlier hearing, one attorney said he was in trial on another case, and the other was gathering information to prepare for the Parra-Roberts trial.
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On Aug. 24, 2022, Alcala was shot in the area of the Target on Stockdale Highway, where he’d been charging an electric vehicle.
Roberts, who was on post-release supervision, attempted to rob Alcala, believing he had money because he owned an electric vehicle, and shot him in the process, according to Parra, the prosecution’s key witness during Roberts’ preliminary hearing. The two men were together the night Alcala was shot.
A grand jury later indicted Parra. Both men face life terms in prison if convicted.
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