Stepdad charged with murder in death of 1-year-old girl (Riverside, California)

Stepdad ANTHONY PACHECO is scheduled to appear in court on charges of murder and assault in the death of his 1-year-old stepdaughter.

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_webdad.147b61b.html

Dad accused of killing stepdaughter due in court
01:24 PM PDT on Tuesday, July 28, 2009

A man accused in the beating death of his year-old stepdaughter is scheduled to appear in court today for hearing that will determine if there is enough evidence for him to stand trial for murder.

Anthony Pacheco, 23, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and assault on a child resulting in great bodily injury.

The toddler was pronounced dead last Oct. 25 at Loma Linda University Medical Center after being hospitalized for four days, according to police.

Officers were called to an Indio home in the 83400 block of Capricorn Avenue late on the night of Oct. 21 to check on a report of alleged child abuse, police said. The injured infant was then transported to a Palm Springs hospital and later was airlifted to the Loma Linda hospital.

Pacheco, who was arrested the day before the child's death, is being held at the Indio Jail in lieu of $2 million.

Today's preliminary hearing is intended to enable a judge to determine if there are grounds for the accused to stand trial.