Parents Arraigned on Abuse Charges
After an unsuccessful attempt to fire their defense attorneys, the Oxnard parents accused of beating their 2-year-old daughter to death last year were arraigned Thursday in Municipal Court on additional charges of felony child abuse and torture.
Rogelio and Gabriela Hernandez, both 19, now face charges that they abused their daughter, Joselin, as an infant in 1994 and then killed her as a toddler in 1996.
The Hernandezes were charged with murder in November, and a few days later prosecutors filed a separate complaint for the 1994 injuries.
Prosecutors want a judge eventually to combine the charges into a single case.
But before they can make such a request, a preliminary hearing must be held to determine whether ample evidence exists to bind the pair over for trial in Superior Court.
An April 1 hearing date was set on Thursday.
The Hernandezes each filed motions this week asking for new attorneys. Rogelio Hernandez has been represented by the public defender’s office, and Gabriela Hernandez has been represented by Ventura-based Conflict Defense Associates.
But after two closed hearings Thursday afternoon, Municipal Court Judge Edward Brodie ruled that the defense lawyers should remain on the case.
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