LAKEPORT — A man accused of second-degree murder, Alejandro Aurelio Arias, successfully petitioned the court to have his current public defender removed and got a new attorney on Friday.
Arias, 30, remains in custody at the Lake County Jail and faces four felony charges, including second-degree murder and reckless driving with injury, for allegedly causing the September 2009 car crash that killed Charlane Hill, 41.
Judge Richard C. Martin announced after a closed-session hearing Friday morning that the court determined attorney Komnith Moth should be relieved from the case. Martin then appointed Doug Rhoades as Arias” public defender.
Arias had been denied in previous attempts to have Moth removed from his defense.
The defendant”s successful motion could delay proceedings several months because Rhoades is unfamiliar with the case, Martin said.
The jury trial was originally scheduled to start this coming week, but the prosecution asked the court Friday for a continuance until mid-November because of additional expert investigation and witness availability issues.
Martin had vacated Thursday”s start date and set the trial for Nov. 9 before Arias requested the closed-session hearing.
Rhoades will appear with Arias in court Tuesday to set a new trial date.
