Friday’s docket in Lyon County District Court has several relatively high-profile cases with their latest hearings.
At 9:30 am, Rafael Castaneda is set for a preliminary hearing on seven charges, including attempted first-degree murder with an alternate of attempted voluntary manslaughter, as well as aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal damage.
Castaneda is accused of trying to kill Orlando Cortez during an incident in the 10 block of Market in early February. Judge Jeff Larson is presiding.
Three hearings are tentatively set to begin at 2 pm, although they will be staggered because they are all handled by the same judge:
*Marisela Castillo Tovar has a pretrial and plea hearing set as part of a felony child abuse case. She’s accused of “causing disfigurement” to at least one child during an alleged incident last year. Tovar has an alternate count of felony child abuse as well. Judge Laura Miser is handling that case.
*Also, Dennis Ray Torrence has a pretrial hearing in his rape and indecent liberties case. Defense attorney Rand Simmons has filed to withdraw from the case, citing Torrence’s request for new counsel. Torrence, who has been charged with two counts of rape and two of aggravated indecent liberties for alleged activity with a child under the age of 14, has already asked unsuccessfully for Judge Miser to recuse herself from the case after stating he doesn’t believe he can have a fair trial with Miser presiding.
*Christina Marie Williams, meanwhile, has a pretrial hearing on two counts of aggravated child endangerment and single counts of methamphetamine possession, marijuana possession and paraphernalia possession after an alleged incident in December.
