Higher Bail Set in Child Slaying Case
A Municipal Court judge increased the bail Monday to $500,000 apiece for an Oxnard mother and father accused of beating their 2-year-old daughter to death in June.
Prosecutors wanted bail set at $1 million for Gabriela and Rogelio Hernandez, both 18, who have pleaded not guilty to slaying their toddler, Joselyn. The parents are also charged with six counts of felony child abuse.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Dec. 11, 1996 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday December 11, 1996 Ventura County Edition Metro Part B Page 4 Metro Desk 1 inches; 26 words Type of Material: Correction
Wrong identity--A photo caption Tuesday incorrectly identified a man sitting with murder suspect Gabriela Hernandez. The man photographed was court translator Refugio Ramirez.
Prosecutors sought a bail increase because the couple have relatives in Mexico and were considered a possible flight risk, Deputy Public Defender Doug Daily said.
But after defense attorneys argued that the $1-million bail was excessive, Judge Steven Hintz compromised by raising the bonds to $500,000 from $250,000.
Joselyn died at a friend’s birthday party June 22 of blunt force injuries to her stomach.
The child had previously been taken away from the parents when she was 6 weeks old and hospitalized with broken legs, cracked ribs and week-old burns to her hands and feet.
Although Joselyn eventually went to live with her maternal grandmother, the woman died in a car accident and the child was returned to her parents.
The parents face up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted. A preliminary hearing is set for next week.
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