Solano County Superior Court Judge Carlos Gutierrez on Tuesday set an October trial date for an Auburn woman accused of killing Vacaville Police Officer Matthew Bowen in July 2024.
Serena CJ Rodriguez, 25, will return to Judge Gutierrez’s Dept. 9 courtroom, at 8:30 a.m. May 4 and again on Sept. 28 for trial confirmation and at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 19 for a trial management conference. Judge Gutierrez set her trial for Oct. 28 at 10 a.m., with the trial expected to last 8 to 10 weeks.
Rodriguez was inducted by a grand jury last year, charging her with murder with a special circumstance of killing Officer Bowen in a DUI-related crash while he was engaged in the lawful performance of his duties. Bowen, 32, was a motorcycle officer with the Vacaville Police Department who had stopped along Leisure Town Road and Orange Drive to issue a ticket when he was struck and killed.
The indictment also includes charges of possessing a stolen vehicle; shoplifting from a 76 Food Mart, a misdemeanor; and personally using a car as a deadly or dangerous weapon.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Paul Sequeira is prosecuting the case. Chief Deputy Public Defender Dan Messner represents Rodriguez, who has pleaded not guilty and denied all of the special allegations and enhancements.
Rodriguez was arrested after the July 11, 2024, collision. The California Highway Patrol released a press statement later in the day, indicating that Rodriguez was allegedly under the influence of drugs when she was taken into custody. She fled on foot but was detained by a passerby and booked into Solano County Jail on suspicion of murder and driving under the influence, causing injury and/or death.
Rodriguez remains without bail in the Stanton Correctional Facility in Fairfield.
Jail records show she was re-arrested by Solano County Sheriff officers a year ago at Napa State Hospital in Napa, where she was confined for a time until she regained mental competency, then booked again into Solano County Jail.
Leave a Reply