A new defense attorney was appointed Thursday for a co-defendant charged in the death of a 17-year-old Heber girl.
Attorney Ronald Serna told Imperial County Superior Court Judge William Lehman he accepted the appointment to represent co-defendant Gerardo Alba, who faces the charge of assault with a deadly weapon in the death of Jennifer Fierro.
Alba’s co-defendant Juan Perez, is being prosecuted on the charge of first-degree murder, said Imperial County Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey Brooker. Both Alba and Perez have not posted bond.
A number of people, some wearing purple T-shirts that read “Justice for Jenny,” attended the brief courtroom session where a new pretrial hearing for April 3 was set, Brooker said.
Both defendants are expected to appear for the April hearing, Brooker said.
Fierro died early May 15 when she was struck by a Hyundai Elantra that the prosecution said Perez was driving at the time with Alba as his passenger. Fierro was at a house party on Hamilton Avenue in El Centro that ran into the early morning hours when a fight broke out.
Staff Writer Silvio J. Panta can be reached at 760-337-3442.
Attorney Ronald Serna told Imperial County Superior Court Judge William Lehman he accepted the appointment to represent co-defendant Gerardo Alba, who faces the charge of assault with a deadly weapon in the death of Jennifer Fierro.
Alba’s co-defendant Juan Perez, is being prosecuted on the charge of first-degree murder, said Imperial County Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey Brooker. Both Alba and Perez have not posted bond.
A number of people, some wearing purple T-shirts that read “Justice for Jenny,” attended the brief courtroom session where a new pretrial hearing for April 3 was set, Brooker said.
Both defendants are expected to appear for the April hearing, Brooker said.
Fierro died early May 15 when she was struck by a Hyundai Elantra that the prosecution said Perez was driving at the time with Alba as his passenger. Fierro was at a house party on Hamilton Avenue in El Centro that ran into the early morning hours when a fight broke out.
Staff Writer Silvio J. Panta can be reached at 760-337-3442.
