Valdez makes court appearance; hearing set for Sept. 15

A Renville man made his first appearance on murder charges in Renville County District Court Monday morning. 26-year-old Julian Valdez is charged with two counts of 2nd Degree Murder for the August 5th shooting death of 31-year-old Pablo Gutierrez.

Valdez is being held on $500,000 unconditional bail and appeared on video before Judge Lawrence Stratton in Renville County District Court in Olivia and demanded a omnibus hearing to discuss legal issues in the case. That hearing will take place September 15th at 10 a.m.

Valdez told police he shot Gutierrez once in the side when Gutierrez began attacking his friend while they played pool in Valdez’ garage in Renville August 5th. They believed Gutierrez was intoxicated and mistook them for someone else when he initially confronted them in the garage.

(JP Cola, KWLM)