Hearing set for June in case of man charged with Larry Hallum’s death

The Bakersfield native currently facing charges of murder in connection with a fatal crash that claimed the life of long-serving Arvin teacher, Larry Hallum, is set to have his preliminary hearing postponed to June. The accused, Marque Qualls, 27, is facing serious charges including second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter under the influence, and assault with a deadly weapon — his vehicle, which was used to cause Hallum’s tragic demise.

Qualls’ use of his vehicle as a lethal weapon in the violent collision that killed 79-year-old Hallum is at the heart of the case. The prosecution alleges that Qualls deliberately sped up his vehicle and ran a red light to crash into Hallum’s car. The crash occurred on February 15, 2023, at Old River Road and White Lane intersection. Hallum succumbed to the injuries he sustained from this crash in April.

In the development of the case, Jacob Evans, deputy public defender representing Qualls, stated that he has been engaged in a trial and only recently received medical reports concerning the case. Given these circumstances, Evans and the prosecuting attorney, William Schlaerth, concurred on postponing the hearing dates until June.

Key to the case against Qualls is evidence indicating that his blood-alcohol content at the time of the crash was 0.18%. This is over twice the legal limit, adding weight to the charges of intoxication. This high alcohol level aids the gross vehicular manslaughter charges, as it suggests Qualls was drunk behind the wheel leading to the fatal incident that claimed the life of Larry Hallum.

In another shocking development, Qualls reportedly confessed to the police that his collision into Hallum’s vehicle was a purposeful attempt at ending his own life. If proven, this admission could considerably impact the direction of the case and the severity of the possible sentence, if Qualls is found guilty. It remains to be seen how this case will unfold as further information becomes available before and during the postponed June hearing.