Trial date set for Bakersfield man charged with murder in girlfriend’s death

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The trial of a Bakersfield man charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend is scheduled for next month.

A judge on Tuesday set the trial of Ricardo Valles Jr. for Oct. 21, according to court records.

Valles, 40, is accused of killing Crystal Acevedo, 36, who was found badly injured in her apartment on Aug. 4. She was taken to Kern Medical, where she died Aug. 8.

According to testimony at Valles’ preliminary hearing , a pathologist ruled Acevedo died of blunt head trauma and her death was a homicide. She’d suffered bleeding on the brain. The pathologist told investigators her injuries would not have been caused by a fall.

Valles denied harming Acevedo, saying she fell and hit her head, according to court documents. He’s charged with first-degree murder and faces a life term in prison if convicted.

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