LAKEPORT — A judge Monday granted a one-week continuance for the jury trial of a Kelseyville man charged with second-degree murder and other felonies for allegedly causing the September 2009 crash that led to the death of Charlane Hill, 41.
Alejandro Aurelio 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, and two 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 next week, but his defense attorney, Komnith Moth, asked the court for an additional few weeks to allow a potential expert witness time to complete a necessary investigation.
Judge David W. Herrick considered a defense motion requesting the continuance during a mandatory settlement conference Monday afternoon at the Lake County Courthouse.
Arias consented to a limited time waiver allowing for a maximum 90-day continuance in mid-June but asked Herrick Monday not to delay the trial beyond that 90-day window, which expires in mid-September.
The prosecution also opposed a lengthy continuance.
Herrick agreed to postpone the trial for one week, scheduling it to begin Sept. 14, which falls within the 90-day waiver window.
The judge also reported no settlement had been reached, thereby concluding the mandatory conference.
Arias will next appear in court on Sept. 9 for pre-trial proceedings.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
