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Troy Reynolds entered a “Not Guilty” plea in the suspected hit-and-run case that resulted in the death of Yucca Valley teenager Joshua Barreras. He’s being held on $500,000 bail, an increase from the scheduled $75,000 bail that was recommended by prosecuting attorneys.
Reynolds is the primary suspect in a hit and run that occurred on January 26. The victim, Joshua Barreras, a 16 year-old Yucca Valley teen, was found unresponsive in the center median of Twentynine Palms Highway near Avalon Ave. Barreras was pronounced dead at a hospital later that night.
Judge Sara E.Oliver addressed the courtroom – acknowledging that the case had drawn extra attention as friends and family members of the teenage victim Joshua Barreras held photos and shared stories outside of Courtroom M1 on Tuesday morning. She asked everyone to not interrupt the proceedings and protect the rights of the victim and the suspect.
The courtroom remained calm when Judge Oliver described the suspect’s behavior following the alleged hit and run. Judge Oliver cited the fact that Reynolds allegedly left the scene of where teen Joshua Barreas was struck, leaving the victim in the road. The judge says that Reynolds did not call 911 or any emergency services, and the truck owned by Reynolds that allegedly struck the teenage victim was found an hour away in another county, and had been found modified. She also stated that Reynolds did not come forward until the Sheriff’s office approached him with evidence.
Reynolds was immediately cuffed by the court bailiffs, and did not speak to the judge or court before being booked into custody for felony hit and run resulting in permanent injury or death.
Immediately following the arraignment, a disruption occurred outside the courtroom between the family and friends of both the victim and the suspect. The disruption followed outside the building and into the parking lot as tempers continued to escalate. Bailiffs were involved and talked with both parties outside the courthouse for nearly an hour after the arraignment.
The next date scheduled for the upcoming trial is April 16th.
Stay tuned to Z107.7 for full coverage of the hit and run case that claimed the life of 16-year-old Joshua Barreras.
