Hit-and-run trial begins, Judge rules on evidence for both parties

The jury trial related to a fatal hit-and-run collision from 2024 began last week, with the judge making several rulings related to evidence. Adeline J. Wells reports with more from the court.

Troy Reynolds returned to court Tuesday morning (March 10) for Day 4 of a jury trial before Judge Sarah Oliver. Reynolds is the primary suspect in a 2024 hit-and-run collision on Twentynine Palms Highway that killed Yucca Valley teenager Joshua Barreras. District Attorneys Jason Gueltzow and Heather Razook represented the prosecution, and Attorney James Rogan represented the defense.

While the jury selection process began on March 3, Judge Oliver expressed that she did not anticipate that a jury would be selected by the end of this week (March 13). She and the attorneys then discussed several motions submitted by both parties in the case. Judge Oliver ruled to exclude evidence contributed by the prosecution related to a secondary collision that occurred near the scene, approximately 25 minutes after the initial collision on January 26, 2024. She found that the evidence was not admissible and had concerns that the two collisions could be conflated for the jurors. 

She denied the defense’s request to exclude several photographs from the scene of the collision as evidence, including images of Barreras, stating she found them to be highly relevant to the case and not unduly prejudicial to Reynolds. Judge Oliver also denied the defense’s request to include two witnesses whose offers of proof were that they would speculate on the victim’s state of mind. She stated that the victim’s state of mind preceding the accident was not relevant, nor a defense to the charge.

Judge Oliver scheduled jury selection to continue this afternoon (March 11).

Troy Reynolds is charged with Felony Hit and Run Resulting in Permanent Injury or Death. He is currently out on $500,000 bail.