Rodriguez Murder Case Moves Forward, Preliminary Hearing Set for May

The case against Silvercrest CEO William Rodriguez took a step forward Tuesday, with a preliminary hearing now scheduled for May 26th at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including murder, hit-and-run causing death, and driving with a suspended license, in connection with the 2024 death of 60-year-old Christina Barrington.

The case had been pushed back multiple times while the defense waited for evidence from the prosecution. A court order required prosecutors to hand over all remaining discovery materials by April 10th, and Tuesday's felony settlement conference moved the case forward from there.

Rodriguez, a Palm Springs resident, has maintained his innocence throughout, with his legal team previously saying they are prepared to take the case to trial if needed.

The preliminary hearing on May 26th could determine whether there is enough evidence to formally send the case to trial.