Upland woman pleads not guilty to murdering husband
An Upland woman accused of murdering her husband with a sword last year re-entered not guilty pleas in West Valley Superior Court this morning to three felony charges.
Prosecutors say Naomi Valdivia, 34, murdered her husband, 34-year-old Jose Luis Gonzalez, on April 26, 2008 following an argument between the couple at their apartment in the 800 block of West Orchid Court.
Valdivia, a mother of five, claims her husband came at her first with the sword, and she acted in self-defense during the struggle, according to Valdivia's family members.
A judge held Valdivia to answer last month on charges of murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse following preliminary hearing testimony from Upland police officers.
Valdivia pleaded not guilty to the charges this morning.
Her defense attorney, Valerie Young, also sought this morning to have Judge Michael Libutti taken off Valdivia's case, claiming the judge is prejudiced against Valdivia, said Deputy District Attorney Theodore J. Smith, III.
Judge Aurhur A. Harrison denied the request, saying it was untimely, according to minutes from the hearing.
Valdivia remains in custody at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. Her bail is set at $1 million.
Click here to read past blog posts on Valdivia's case.
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