LAKE COUNTY ? A case of peer violence that ended in the death of 17-year-old Heather Valdez is moving through Lake County Superior Court.
A trial is set to begin May 5 for Gabrielle Varney, 18, who was arrested last summer on charges of murder and using a knife in connection with Valdez”s death. Varney allegedly stabbed Valdez with a pocketknife on the afternoon of June 5 after school let out for the day at W.C. Carle High School in Clearlake, the small continuation school where the teens were juniors.
A trial readiness conference set for Monday was rescheduled for April 27.
“There were various pre-trial issues that the prosecution and defense are working out, so we continued it one week,” Varney”s defense attorney, Stephen Carter, said.
Lake County Deputy District Attorney John DeChaine is prosecuting the case. He said issues to be discussed at the trial readiness conference could include the expected length of the trial and any anticipated delays.
“At this stage we have the opportunity to confirm the case is ready for trial if there are no pre-trial issues that would bar it from going forward,” DeChaine said.
Varney was held to answer on the murder charge at a September preliminary hearing. Carter said in a previous interview (Record-Bee, June 21, 2008) if she is convicted, Varney could face 26 years to life in prison.
Varney is being held at the Lake County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
