COURTS Convicted murderer to receive hearing on EDD fraud charges

On April 6, the preliminary hearing for unemployment insurance fraud regarding Demetrius Coleman, who was convicted of murder in 2020, was continued until after a judge issues a ruling on if Coleman is eligible for a re-trial in the murder case.

Coleman — who was convicted of a 2019 drive-by shooting in Rio Dell that killed 26-year-old Johnny Mack Renfro — is co-defendants with his fiancee Alma Ahumadamendoza.

The couple is accused of defrauding the California Employment Development Department out of $950 while he was in jail, where he has resided since his 2020 arrest. The two are also being charged with grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime alongside an unknown individual and Ahumadamendoza faces an additional charge of perjury for claiming on a form to be eligible for financial assistance. There are also special allegations regarding Coleman’s conviction.

The preliminary hearing, which was set for Wednesday morning, was rescheduled because Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Schaffer believed the matter would be resolved depending on the ruling Coleman will receive on April 19 regarding his eligibility for a re-trial.

The preliminary hearing is set for June 14 at 9:15 a.m., as both Coleman and Ahumadamendoza had entered general time waivers.

Ahumadamendoza was present and out of custody for the proceedings, and Coleman was not present and in custody.