Trial in CDCR counselor’s death resumes

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — After about a two-week hiatus, trial resumes Tuesday for two men charged with murder in the death of a prison counselor they’re accused of attempting to rob as he charged an electric vehicle.

Robert Pernell Roberts, 31, and Sebastian Parra, 24, face life terms in prison if convicted in the death of Benny Alcala Jr., 43.

17 News will live blog Tuesday’s proceedings, with updates appearing at the bottom of this page.

Alcala was shot Aug. 24, 2022, in the area of the Target on Stockdale Highway, where he’d been charging an electric vehicle.

Initially only Roberts was charged. Parra, the prosecution’s key witness at Roberts’ preliminary hearing, said he’d met Roberts that night and had nothing to do with the killing. He was later indicted.

The prosecution says the defendants met at Park at River Walk, drank together and at some point Parra gave his 9mm handgun to Roberts. They walked to Target and went inside, then headed toward a nearby McDonald’s when they saw Alcala charging his vehicle and approached.

Roberts shot Alcala in the back as he tried to get away, prosecutor John Allen said. He died at the scene.

Parra and Roberts have each claimed innocence and blamed the other for the killing.

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