Two Santa Clarita Valley court cases had hearings Tuesday at Los Angeles County Superior Court in San Fernando.
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A Canyon Country man accused of killing his father in Santa Clarita’s only murder in 2013 had a hearing setting; a Stevenson Ranch woman accused in an alleged DUI crash, also had a hearing.
Juan Mejia, 31, of Canyon Country, is the lone suspect in the shooting of his 53-year-old father, who goes by the same name.
He’s due back in court May 13.
Suzette L. Crockett, 46, of Stevenson Ranch, was booked Aug. 11 on a charge of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for a crash.
Related article: Stevenson Ranch Woman Charged In Fatal Crash Due Back Next Year
First degree murder charge in Canyon Country
The defendant was expected to schedule a preliminary hearing in San Fernando, according to the court calendar, however both sides agreed to push the scheduling date to May 13, said Nathan Bartose, deputy district attorney for Los Angeles County.
“They’re putting together information for my office to see if there can be mitigation,” Bartos said, referring to a plea negotiation. “There’s no offer (at this point), but it doesn’t mean there won’t be.”
At a preliminary hearing, the evidence in the case is presented to a judge who decides if there is enough evidence to merit a trial.
Related article: Canyon Country Suspect In Santa Clarita Murder Due Back In March
At approximately 11:47 p.m. on May 16, he produced a gun and shot his father in the head, according to a Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau detective.
The shooting took place at the 19000 block of Newhouse Street in Canyon Country, at the elder Mejia’s residence.
The son allegedly fled the scene shortly after his father was shot.
Homicide Bureau detectives worked with Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station detectives to find the younger Juan Mejia.
After a special bulletin was put out by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Mejia was found the week after the shooting.
The public’s help was part of the reason why deputies were able to find and detain their suspect for questioning, according to a sergeant with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
Detectives believe the suspect arrived home intoxicated and began to argue with his parents at their home.
Mejia first answered the charges in May, when he pleaded not guilty to first degree murder.
Mejia is being held in lieu of $2,055,000 bail at the Pitchess Detention Center.
Stevenson Ranch Woman Charged In Fatal Crash
Crockett is due back in court April 28 for the setting of a preliminary hearing in her case.
Crockett allegedly was driving a 2007 Matrix north on The Old Road, near Sagecrest Circle, approaching a green light in the left-turn area, according to a California Highway Patrol report.
Johnny Sanchez, 58, of Lake View Terrace, was driving southbound in a 2005 Suzuki motorcycle on The Old Road, where Crockett allegedly failed to yield to Sanchez, according to the collision report.
“She made a left-hand turn directly in front of the motorcycle, and the motorcycle broadsided her,” said Officer Glauser of the California Highway Patrol, who investigated the scene.
CHP officers and Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel responded to the crash.
Sanchez was taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Monday morning, where he was treated for major injuries, according to Glauser said.
He later died from injuries he sustained in the crash.
That’s when Crockett’s charge was upgraded and Crockett turned herself in, and then made bail.
Crockett is free on $100,000 bail.
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