Brawley couple accused of murder make joint court appearance
Jessamyn Dodd
EL CENTRO, Calif (KYMA) – The couple charged with the abuse and murder of a five-year-old child in Brawley were back in an Imperial County Criminal Courtroom Thursday.
24-year old Leah Lentz and 24-year-old Isaac Elizondo faced a judge. This time, as co-defendants following the previous consolidation of their cases.
Judge Marco D. Nunez oversaw the proceedings during this hearing.
On Wednesday, the public defender assigned to represent Elizondo filed a motion in opposition to the cases being combined.
However, Lentz’s attorney, Veronica Henderson, said Lentz is ready to get her case moving.
Henderson told Judge Nunez, “She’s anxious to get this case to trial. She maintains her innocence. However, as her attorney, I need to make sure all of her rights are protected.”
Lentz was the mother of five year old Joseph Jr. Elizondo is her boyfriend.
Elizondo is charged with the abuse and murder of Joseph Jr. Lentz faces her own charges of murder in the death of the child. They both remain in custody.
The public defender’s office stated that they will also re-subpoena the Imperial Valley Healthcare District, serving the director and demanding he be present in the courtroom.
When we previously spoke to Henderson outside the courtroom, she urged the public to remember that defendants are allowed the presumption of innocence in this country.
“Everybody in this country is innocent until proven otherwise, and so I would like to make sure that people remember that,” she said.
Meantime, a preliminary hearing setting and amended arraignment are set for April 30.