Pretrial motions are set to begin next week ahead of jury selection for the trial of one of two gang member charged in the fatal stabbing of a Banning man and wounding the victim’s son during a confrontation over loud noise.
Jerry Anthony Valdepena Jr., 29, was arrested in 2021 following a years-long investigation that identified him as the second person involved in the 2016 slaying of 26-year-old Jeremy Cooley.
Valdepena is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and a special circumstance allegation of killing for the benefit of a criminal street gang.
During a status hearing at the Banning Justice Center Friday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Jorge Hernandez conferred with the prosecution and defense regarding scheduling, and both sides indicated they were prepared to move forward. The judge found a courtroom available for trial at the Riverside Hall of Justice and referred the matter there. Proceedings were slated to get underway Thursday.
Valdepena is being held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.
Co-defendant Jerry Anthony Chagolla, 34, was convicted in 2019 of charges identical to Valdepena’s and was sentenced in February 2021 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
According to the Banning Police Department, about 12:30 a.m. on June 5, 2016, the defendants and others were partying at a residence in the 400 block of Alessandro Street, near Nicolet Street, creating a disturbance that prompted Cooley, who resided on the same block, to walk over and request that they lower the noise level.
In response, the defendants followed and attacked the victim, as well as his young son, stabbing Cooley multiple times and slashing the boy in front of Cooley’s wife, investigators allege.
They said Valdepena and Chagolla fled before patrol officers arrived. Cooley and his son were taken to San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital in Banning, where the elder victim died a short time later. The boy was released from the hospital the same day and fully recovered.
Detectives, with assistance from the county’s Gang Impact Team, identified Chagolla as one of the perpetrators roughly 10 months later, culminating in his trial and conviction.
According to police, additional investigation was required to identify and track down Valdepena. He was arrested in Banning on April 9, 2021, nearly 5 years after the killing.
Court records show he has a prior conviction for felony evading.