Desert Hot Springs man faces murder charges

A 22-year-old man who allegedly shot and killed a man in Desert Hot Springs in December 2021 must stand trial for murder, a judge ruled today.

Jorge Alberto Valdez of Desert Hot Springs was charged at Monday's preliminary hearing with one count of murder with special aggravated charges for discharging a firearm with the intent to cause great bodily injury and one count of murder with special circumstances during the commission of a robbery, court records show.

The defendant pleaded not guilty on June 27, 2022, two weeks after the indictment.

Valdez is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 20 for an arraignment following a preliminary hearing at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, according to case records.

The Desert Hot Springs Police Department responded to a call about shots fired in the area in the 66700 block of Ironwood Drive on the evening of December 8, 2021.

When officers arrived, they found 28-year-old Evan Rivas, who died at the scene, authorities said.

Valdez was arrested on suspicion of Rivas' murder. It was unclear what led investigators to identify Valdez as a suspect.

According to court records, Valdez previously pleaded guilty to robbery and driving under the influence.