Trial date confirmed for 2 charged in CDCR counselor’s death

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Trial is expected to begin this month for two men charged with murder in the shooting of a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation counselor outside a southwest Bakersfield Target.

Robert Pernell Roberts, 31, and Sebastian Parra, 24, are charged with murder and attempted robbery in the death of Benny Alcala Jr., 43.

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Parra’s attorney, Timothy Hennessy, said in court Thursday there may be a slight delay while a prosecutor continues to gather documents, but both he and Deputy Public Defender Gordon Lake, Roberts’ attorney, said they felt confident confirming May 13 as the start of what’s expected to be a 20-day trial.

The case may be assigned a courtroom on that day for pretrial motions followed by jury selection.

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Alcala was shot Aug. 24, 2022, in the area of the Target on Stockdale Highway, where he’d been charging an electric vehicle.

Initially only Roberts was charged. Parra, the prosecution’s key witness at Roberts’ preliminary hearing, said he’d met Roberts that night and had nothing to do with the killing. A grand jury later indicted Parra.

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