Court hearing scheduled for Tuesday in the case of the counselor’s slaying at CDCR

Two men charged in the shooting death of a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation counselor, Robert Pernell Roberts and Sebastian Parra, are scheduled to appear in court to determine if defense attorneys are ready for trial. The prosecutors are charging the two men with murder and attempted robbery following the death of 43-year-old Benny Alcala Jr. The defense attorneys had previously stated that they would be ready by April, as they were still gathering information and preparing for the trial.

On August 24, 2022, Benny Alcala Jr. was shot in the vicinity of a Target store on Stockdale Highway while charging an electric vehicle. Roberts, who was on post-release supervision at the time, attempted to rob Alcala under the belief that he had money because he owned the electric vehicle, resulting in the shooting. Parra, who is the prosecution’s main witness in the case, testified during Roberts’ preliminary hearing that the two men were together on the night Alcala was shot. A grand jury later indicted Parra on related charges, and if both men are convicted, they could face life terms in prison.

The upcoming court appearance will determine if the defense attorneys are ready for trial, with both men facing serious charges of murder and attempted robbery, linked to the death of Benny Alcala Jr. The incident occurred while Alcala was charging his electric vehicle near a Target store, with Roberts attempting to rob him, believing he had money due to owning the vehicle. Parra’s testimony during Roberts’ preliminary hearing suggests that the two men were together at the time of Alcala’s shooting, leading to both men being indicted by a grand jury.

The defense attorneys have indicated that they would be prepared for trial by April, while citing reasons like gathering information and handling other cases as contributing factors. Both Roberts and Parra are facing life terms in prison if convicted on the murder and attempted robbery charges related to the death of Benny Alcala Jr. The upcoming court appearance will determine the readiness of the defense attorneys and possibly pave the way for a trial to take place in the near future, shedding light on the details of the case and the roles of the accused individuals.

Robert Pernell Roberts and Sebastian Parra will be appearing in court to assess the readiness of their defense attorneys for trial in connection to the murder of Benny Alcala Jr. Roberts, who was on post-release supervision, allegedly attempted to rob Alcala believing he had money due to his ownership of an electric vehicle, resulting in Alcala’s shooting on the night of August 24, 2022. The indictment of both men by a grand jury and the testimony of Parra during Roberts’ preliminary hearing have laid out the prosecution’s case against them, with potential life terms in prison awaiting if they are convicted of the charges.

The case involving the shooting death of Benny Alcala Jr. by Robert Pernell Roberts and Sebastian Parra is progressing towards trial as the defense attorneys’ readiness will be assessed in an upcoming court appearance. The prosecution’s case against the two men centers on the murder and attempted robbery charges, with Roberts allegedly shooting Alcala while the latter was charging his electric vehicle near a Target store. The expected trial will shed light on the events of the night of the shooting, the motivations behind the crime, and the potential consequences for the accused individuals if found guilty of the charges brought against them.