Watsonville man to face trial for murder in girlfriend's death
The 35-yearold man accused of fatally stabbing his Watsonville girlfriend will stand to face trial for murder, a judge ordered this week.
Alberto Scalant is accused of killing Robin Kern, a 32-year-old dental hygienist. He has been jailed since Mexican authorities deported him back to California, shortly after Kern was found dead in her apartment on July 13, 2021.
Kern was the mother of three daughters.
Thursday's court order by Santa Cruz County Superior
Court Judge Stephen Siegel holds Scalant to answer charges of felony murder with enhancements for use of weapons, serious felony violation and a prior felony strike. A two-day preliminary hearing this week consisted primarily of law enforcement witnesses sharing details of their interviews with various witnesses and crime scene investigations. According to testimony, Kern and a friend spent the evening before her death out in Capitola.
The friend reportedly told police Kern was texting with Scalant throughout the evening and that he texted a photo of a bottle of rum and flowers inside her apartment. Later that night, the friend dropped Kern off at home, where she reportedly recognized Scalant's Mercedes parked outside, according to testimony.
Another witness, who lived in an apartment sharing a wall with Kern's home, told a police investigator that she heard “hits” on the wall later that night and the sound of Kern's scream and crying, according to testimony. The neighbor also reported hearing the sound of accelerated footsteps going up and down the stairs. After several minutes, things quieted down, so the neighbor did not call police, according to testimony.
During the brief altercation, the neighbor did not hear the sound of a man's voice, but looked out her door to see a male slowly opening and closing the outer door before leaving with two items, possibly plastic bags, hours later, according to testimony.
Scalant is scheduled for an informational arraignment hearing Feb. 23.