Man charged in Modesto stabbing

MODESTO -- A man charged with murder pleaded not guilty Monday to allegations that he stabbed to death his sister's longtime boyfriend at an east Modesto apartment complex a month ago.

Francisco Hernandez Gonzales, 50, of Modesto is accused of stabbing 55-year-old Trinidad Cordero. About 9 p.m. Jan. 12, medics responded to a report of the stabbing at the Redwood Apartments in the 2500 block of Yosemite Boulevard, where they found Cordero with multiple wounds. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he later died.

A bailiff pushed the defendant in a wheelchair into the courtroom Monday. Police have said he has a prosthetic left leg and walks with a pronounced limp. Gonzales was assisted by a Spanish language court interpreter.

Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Thomas Zeff scheduled Gonzales to return to court March 25 for a pretrial hearing. He remained in custody at Stanislaus County Jail, his bail set at $1.030 million.

Gonzales was arrested at a Turlock homeless shelter 11 days after the stabbing. Turlock police got an anonymous tip that Gonzales was staying at the We Care Shelter on Broadway. He had been using a fictitious name.

Bee staff writer Rosalio Ahumada can be reached at rahumada@modbee.com or (209) 578-2394.