Arson suspect remains jailed; hearing delayed
BRAWLEY – The Holtville man suspected in a recent arson rampage that burned nearly $1 million worth of hay made his first in-person court appearance here Tuesday and agreed to a delay in a hearing on the charges.
Eriberto Saucedo Delgado, 54, will remain in the county jail on $1 million bail. He faces nine counts of arson and one count of recklessly causing a brush fire, all felonies, in connection with fires April 3, 16 and 23. He pleaded not guilty at an April 26 arraignment.
His attorney, Deputy Public Defender Kelly Jafine, told Superior Judge Monica Lepe-Negrete that on behalf of her client she was dropping a request to have the bail reviewed. Tuesday’s hearing had been scheduled for that purpose.
Jafine and Deputy District Attorney Mario Vela also agreed to postpone Saucedo’s preliminary hearing from May 10 to May 23. Such hearings are held to determine if there is probable cause for a trial on the charges.
While the criminal complaint lists the defendant’s last name as Delgado, when Lepe-Negrete asked which name he prefers he stated Saucedo. The county jail has also has confirmed his age is 54, not 57 as stated in an earlier county Sheriff’s Office press release.
Speaking through an English-Spanish interpreter, Saucedo answered, “yes” when the judge asked if would waive his right to have the hearing sooner.
Jafine said she needed more time because of the “extensive discovery I’m still owed and I’m requesting Mr. Saucedo’s mental health records.”
Asked by Lepe-Negrete if she anticipated any issues with her client’s competency, Jafine replied, “No.”
Vela noted he is also awaiting reports from the Sheriff ’s Office.
Saucedo was arrested on April 24 after a Sheriff ’s deputy spotted a black Jeep in the Calipatria area that fit the description of a vehicle witnesses reported near some of the April 23 fires, authorities said.
Unspecified evidence and statements he made to deputies allegedly connected him to the 10 recent fires– seven haystacks and one brush fire on April 23 and two previous haystacks on April 3 and 16, authorities said. Vela has said more charges may be yet filed in connection with other fires.