Man gets 2 years after crashing into woman, killing her

A man was sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison for driving his pickup into a woman’s car on Alfred Harrell Highway and killing her.

David Alvarez, 28, kept a straight face as a Spanish interpreter translated a victim impact statement by a daughter describing the devastation she and her family felt upon learning of the death of Morgan Lafaye Barber, 56, of Bakersfield. The statement also described how Barber suffered.

The daughter described the anxiety she developed after learning of her mom’s death, and said she had to quit her job. But most of all, the daughter thought about how Alvarez ran away after colliding into Barber on Alfred Harrell Highway and Highway 178 on May 31.

Alvarez accepted a plea deal to have charges of vehicular manslaughter, providing false identification to officers, vehicle manslaughter without gross negligence and driving without a license dismissed. He pleaded no contest to hit-and-run leading to death and reckless driving.

A man was arrested on suspicion of a hate crime

after threatening people with a knife and yelling racial epithets, the Bakersfield Police Department said Tuesday.

Police officers were called Monday morning to the Foods Co grocery store on Haley Street after reports of a man threatening to kill patrons in a parking lot while brandishing a hammer and knife, a BPD news release said.

Adrian Aceves, 34, ran before police arrived, but they found him hiding in an abandoned building. He was booked into jail on suspicion of four felonies of threatening with an intent to terrorize, four misdemeanors of exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm and a misdemeanor of violating others’ civil rights.

A Bakersfield man shot at one of his kin during a

“family dispute” Monday morning, police reported, adding that no one was struck by a bullet.

Benny Laws, 40, was booked on suspicion of attempted murder. The Bakersfield Police Department said a firearm was seized.

Laws is the uncle of the victim, according to BPD spokesman Sgt. Robert Pair.

The Bakersfield Police Department is investigating

a shooting that left a man injured early Tuesday at the Plaza Motel.

Officers responding to the 700 block of Union Avenue found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital and was listed in stable condition, the BPD wrote in a news release.

Police are searching for two suspects. One is a Black man standing about 6 feet, 2 inches, with a medium build. He was wearing a black ski mask.

Another Black man, about 5 feet, 5 inches with a slim build, was wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt.

The investigation is ongoing so anyone with information about this case may call the BPD at 661-327-7111.

Attorneys representing the men accused of killing a

corrections counselor provided updates in court Tuesday on how close they are to being ready for trial.

Defendant Robert Pernell Roberts has pleaded not guilty in the shooting death of Benny Alcala, 43. Co-defendant Sebastian Parra was indicted on first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder charges. Parra was prosecutors’ star witness in Roberts’ preliminary hearing, but then was indicted on murder charges.

Deputy public defender Lexi Blythe said she’s involved in another, unrelated trial. Defense attorney Timothy Hennessy said he has not yet received discovery evidence amounting to a terabyte-size hard drive. He’s also preparing for another major case.

Parties in the case will be back Feb. 15 to see their status on the case.