The preliminary hearing date for a Carpinteria man accused of beating another man to death has been further delayed.
Scott Robert Fleming appeared Friday before Judge Thomas Adams for a preliminary hearing setting conference in Santa Barbara County Superior Court.
Deputy District Attorney Kevin Weichbrod said Judge Adams continued the conference to Nov. 15. The preliminary hearing will determine whether there is enough evidence for Mr. Fleming, 30, to stand trial as charged.
He remains in County Jail custody on $1,035,000 bail, according to jail records.
On July 24, Mr. Fleming was charged with voluntary manslaughter in the death of 32-year-old Eric Romero, with enhancements for a second-strike allegation and having a prior serious or violent felony conviction. He pleaded not guilty on July 26.
At 1:20 a.m. July 20, Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a fight and found Mr. Romero lying on the ground in the 4900 block of 9th Street in Carpinteria.
Mr. Romero was taken to an area hospital in critical condition. He was removed from life support on July 23.
Detectives identified Mr. Fleming as the suspect and obtained a warrant for his arrest
On July 22, detectives from the sheriff’s Criminal Investigations and Special Operations bureaus arrested Mr. Fleming with help from Ventura Police Department officers.
email: pgonzalez@newspress.com
