LAKEPORT — A judge Monday granted a defense motion to continue the jury trial of a Kelseyville man charged with second-degree murder and other crimes for his alleged role in the September 2009 crash that led to the death of Charlane Hill, 41.
Judge Andrew S. Blum presided over the motion hearing at the Lake County Courthouse. Deputy district attorney John Langan represented the Lake County District Attorney”s Office and attorney Komnith Moth represented the defendant, Alejandro Aurelio Arias.
Arias, 30, remains in custody at the Lake County Jail and faces felony charges of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and two counts of reckless driving causing injury.
Authorities allege that Arias drove through a red light at the intersection of highways 29 and 175 in Lakeport on Sept. 11, 2009 and crashed into another car, killing the driver and severely injuring two of the three passengers.
Hill was pronounced dead at the scene, while the two severely injured passengers were flown to out-of-county hospitals. Arias also reportedly spent time in the hospital because of injuries sustained in the crash.
Arias, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, was scheduled to stand trial in mid-July, but the defense requested additional time to complete its investigation. Arias asked the judge in open court Monday to limit the continuance to a maximum of 90 days.
Blum obliged and scheduled the estimated four-week trial to begin Sept. 8. Arias will next appear in court on Aug. 15 for the first of three pre-trial hearings.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
