courts
Two Teens Charged in Valenzuela Murder to Stand Trial Separately, Judge Decides
Detectives from the Maricopa Police Department’s Crime Scene Unit are investigating a shooting that occurred on Dancer Lane in the Maricopa Meadows community around 10 p.m. on November 22. The incident resulted in the death of Estaban Valenzuela, prompting a complex legal response.
In a significant ruling today, a Pinal County judge ordered separate trials for two juvenile co-defendants in the murder case. Eliot Jackson, 17, and Isaiah Bandin, 15, appeared in court this afternoon, facing allegations linked to Valenzuela’s death during what prosecutors describe as a drug-related robbery.
The shooting incident reportedly took place near Dirk Street and Dancer Lane. Both alleged assailants remain in juvenile detention but will be tried as adults, reflecting the gravity of the charges.
During the court appearance, the defendants, dressed in matching blue polos and khaki pants, were shackled at the hands and feet. Despite being in close proximity, they avoided eye contact with their family members in the gallery, only exchanging fleeting glances as they exited.
Due to Bandin’s age, Judge Jason Holmberg has prohibited cameras in the courtroom, although both teens will face adult charges. A new “trial setting hearing” is slated for May 5 at 1:30 p.m., where further progress in the case will be addressed.
At today’s proceedings, both defense and state attorneys mutually agreed to the severance of the trials. The judge remarked, “I’ll go ahead and show Mr. Bandin and Mr. Jackson are now severed.” He instructed the attorneys to coordinate with the state to establish realistic trial dates, with an emphasis on proceedings potentially taking place in 2025.
The severance decision, a legal mechanism intended to protect defendants’ rights, indicates that a joint trial might prejudice one or both parties. Discussions regarding a possible plea deal surfaced briefly, but details remain unclear, and neither legal team has returned requests for comment.
Through a victim’s advocate, the Bandin family has chosen not to provide public statements at this time, and the defense teams have also refrained from commenting on the ongoing legal process.
