MODESTO -- A judge on Thursday scheduled a trial to start Aug. 13 for a 34-year-old Ceres man accused of murder in the 2011 shooting death of a 16-year-old boy in south Modesto.
Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Linda McFadden also scheduled defendant Saul Hernandez to return to court May 24 for a pretrial hearing.
Berndt Brauer, Hernandez's defense attorney, asked for the May hearing to see if he can try to negotiate a possible a plea deal before the trial.
The judge also scheduled a hearing Aug. 12 to make sure both sides are ready to proceed with the trial, which is estimated to last about three weeks.
Hernandez has been ordered to stand trial charged with murder and negligent discharge of a firearm in the death of Modesto resident Alberto Beraza. The shooting occurred shortly after 5 p.m. Aug. 22, 2011, in front of Boomers Car Audio on Crows Landing Road.
A description of a white Audi and a partial license plate number led authorities to an Audi registered to Hernandez. The car was found at his home in the 2800 block of Morgan Road in Ceres.
Ceres police have said Hernandez's Audi was discovered with what appeared to be blood on its exterior. Later that night, Hernandez turned himself in at the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department.
Bee staff writer Rosalio Ahumada can be reached at rahumada@modbee.com or (209) 578-2394.
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