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Man sentenced 26 to life for the 2023 murder of his girlfriend’s mother

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SALINAS, Calif. (KION) - Kevin Durran Hart has been sentenced to 26 years to life for the 2023 murder of his then-girlfriend's mom, Jackie Robinson.

The sentencing occurred this morning, with six of Robinson's family members speaking at the sentencing.

According to the Monterey County District Attorney's Office, Hart had beaten Robinson to death during an angry outburst, believing Robinson's daughter had been unfaithful to him.

Seaside Police had found Hart covered in blood in Robinson's home, with unsuccessful attempts made to save Robinson.

Man found guilty of first-degree murder in 2023 in Seaside, Monterey County DA's Office

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The Monterey County District Attorney's office announced Friday that 47-year-old Kevin Durran Hart of Patterson was found guilty of first-degree murder for killing 65-year-old Jackie Robinson in her Seaside home in 2023.

The DA's office says that a jury found that Hart used a deadly weapon during the murder. They say that he will be sentenced on May 7 this year.

According to the DA's office, Hart is facing 26 years to life in prison for the crime.

The DA's office says that on May 5, 2023, Hart was angered when he thought his girlfriend was unfaithful to him, prompting an angry outburst on his then-girlfriend's mother, Robinson.

He entered Robinson's home and "brutally beat her to death," according to officials.

Seaside Police say that they found Hart in the home covered in blood, and that efforts to save Robinson's life were unsuccessful.

Central Valley man accused of murdering elderly Seaside woman pleads not guilty

SEASIDE, Calif. (KION-TV) UPDATE ON MAY 9, 2023, AT 3:48 PM- A man accused of murdering his girlfriend's mother was arraigned in a Salinas courtroom Tuesday.

Kevin Durran Hart, 45, pled not guilty to charges of murder, with a special allegation he used a deadly weapon, and for resisting a peace officer, according to our reporter in court. He is due back in court on May 24 for his preliminary hearing. His bail remains set at $2,000,000, according to a Salinas judge.

His victim was identified as Jackie Robinson, 65, an usher at Bethel Missionary Baptists Church, according to Seaside Police.

ORIGINAL STORY

Seaside Police said they are investigating a murder that took place on Friday on the 1200 block of Hamilton Avenue.

Police said they arrived around 3 p.m. for a disturbance call. They found Kevin Durran Hart, 45, of Patterson, covered in blood, and a 65-year-old woman suffering from head trauma.

Hart attempted to fight the responding officers, but he was subdued. The victim, a long-time Seaside resident, was taken to the hospital but later passed of her injuries.

Hart was arrested and booked into Monterey County Jail for murder, attack with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury, resisting a peace officer, torture, and kidnapping.

The Monterey County District Attorney's Office said the defendant is accused of beating his girlfriend's mother with his bare hands and a piece of glass from a nearby table.

On Monday, he was scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. in a Salinas courtroom, but he refused transportation to court. His arraignment has been moved to Tuesday, said the district attorney's office.

The Monterey County District Attorney's Office filed charges for murder, with a special allegation he used a deadly weapon, and for resisting a peace officer, according to Seaside Police.

The district attorney's office said his bail is set at $2,000,000.

Police will not yet release the name of the victim. When asked about how they knew each other, Seaside Police said they were not in a relationship and were acquainted.

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I’ve been an international professional writer and performer for over 25 years. With a background in journalism, creative writing, dance and aerial, I find the intersection between all of these skills lands itself somewhere under the term “storytelling.”

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Sergio Berrueta

Sergio Berrueta has been in the news for quite awhile going from studying print media to entering the realm of broadcast.

Originally from Bell Gardens, California, in Southeast Los Angeles. Berrueta started his professional news career in Eureka as a newscast producer for North Coast News (now The Northstate’s News) at KAEF ABC 23 in 2022. He pivoted a year later in 2022 going from behind-the-scenes to in front of the camera as a multimedia journalist for Redwood News Channel 3 (KIEM/KVIQ) also in Eureka.

Berrueta studied journalism at Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt) earning his Bachelor’s Degree. Berrueta was a staff writer, page editor, social media manager and editor-in-chief of the university’s El Lenador, the only bilingual publication in all of Humboldt County.

Before moving to the North Coast, Berrueta had earned his Associate’s Degree at East Los Angeles College in 2019 after beginning his educational journey in 2012. He also was on staff for the ELAC’s publication, ELAC Campus News, having been a staff writer, page editor, and online editor.

Outside of news experience, Berrueta has also been in education as an AmeriCorps tutor in East Hollywood from 2017 to 2019 and served in a government role as a National Hometown Fellow for Lead for America with the City of Arcata in 2021.

When not focusing on news, Berrueta is an avid amateur cinephile having written about films in free time. He also writes poetry, attempting to get through a backlog of video games, enjoys visiting new places along the California Coast, and trying to keep up with the latest music and podcasts.

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