NEWBURY PARK : Man Pleads Innocent in Beating Death
A Los Angeles man indicted last month by the Ventura County grand jury pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to the murder of a Newbury Park restaurant worker.
Raul Paul Urquidi, 23, is accused in the bludgeoning death of Rodolfo Macias, who was found beaten to death in his home May 25.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael K. Frawley on Tuesday amended the grand jury’s original indictment to include an allegation that Urquidi has a second prior conviction, a burglary charge that would add five years to any sentence Urquidi may receive if convicted of murder.
The original indictment charged Urquidi with murder and auto theft and alleges that he had previously been convicted of forgery, which would add a year to any other sentence, Frawley said.
Urquidi was arrested June 14 after sheriff’s investigators linked him to Macias’ vehicle, which was taken from the victim’s home after the slaying.
Frawley declined to speculate on any potential motive, but Macias’ relatives told The Times that money and a wallet were missing after the attack.
A Superior Court jury trial is scheduled for Aug. 23.
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