The attorney for a Castaic man facing possible decades behind bars if convicted of charges from a 2024 shooting was granted more time for his trial, according to court records.
Raul Martinez, 45, was held to answer to seven felony charges in June, following his arrest related to an armed standoff on Oct. 11, 2024, in the 28000 block of Parker Road, near Sloan Canyon, about 2 miles east of the Castaic High School.
Martinez stands accused of holding his “estranged” wife and child against their will while armed, firing a round into the air in front of them, and then refusing to follow commands from a Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputy who ultimately shot him in the head.
The case has been working its way through the court system for more than two years, with the most recent activity involving a request for a mental health diversion for Martinez from his attorney, and then a change of counsel just two months before the case was to begin trial preparations in earnest.
On Wednesday, the case was pushed to June for another pretrial conference.
Previously, both sides were expected to discuss trial readiness at a hearing Tuesday in front of Judge David Stuart in the San Fernando Courthouse.
Last week, Martinez’s counsel, Jason Najarian from the Public Defender’s Office, filed a motion that he would be seeking to continue the case for good cause.
Najarian received the case about 18 months into the litigation, on March 16, according to his sworn declaration, and let the court know the following day that he wouldn’t be ready to defend Martinez in just two months.
In November, Martinez’s previous counsel had successfully argued for a limited motion, called a “Pitchess motion,” which would allow the defense to look at the record of the deputy who shot Martinez.
During their brief standoff, the Castaic High School resource officer reported to investigators that Martinez pointed the gun at him as the deputy exited his vehicle, prompting the deputy to take cover behind the door of his patrol vehicle.
When Martinez pointed the gun at his wife, according to the deputy’s testimony, he fired once, striking Martinez, who was hospitalized for several days before being taken into custody, per court records.
A defense request also indicated plans to look at whether policing standards were followed in the incident.
Najarian’s declaration stated that his client was facing a possibility of more than 53 years in state prison if convicted of the charges, due to a prior conviction.
