LAKEPORT — A mandatory settlement discussion in the second-degree murder case against Alejandro Aurelio Arias was delayed two weeks on Monday.
Arias, 30, faces the murder count along with a felony charge of gross vehicular manslaughter and two counts of reckless driving with injury.
Authorities allege Arias sped 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, Charlane Hill, and severely injuring two of her passengers.
Arias has pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied all special allegations in the case.
Settlement and trial-readiness conferences were set for Monday at the Lake County Courthouse, but Arias” recently appointed public defender, Doug Rhoades, asked the court to delay those proceedings while he familiarizes himself with the case, according to senior deputy district attorney John Langan.
The defendant successfully petitioned the court for a new lawyer in October.
Judge Robert L. Crone Jr. rescheduled the conferences for Dec. 19, Langan said. The jury trial, which is set to begin Jan. 25, was not delayed.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
