Former Palm Springs CEO William Rodriguez back in court as defense moves to toss refiled murder charge

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) William "Billy" Rodriguez was back in court Thursday morning, where his attorney is asking a judge to throw out the murder charge prosecutors refiled against him last month.

The hearing was pushed to Monday at 8:30 a.m. after the Riverside County District Attorney's Office asked for more time. Defense attorney Molly Tucker objected to the delay in a written filing.

Rodriguez, the former CEO of Silvercrest Advertising, is accused of hitting 60-year-old Christina Barrington from behind as she rode her scooter on East Palm Canyon Drive in Cathedral City in October 2024 and driving off. She died the next day. He has pleaded not guilty.

Judge John Ryan dismissed the murder count in August at the end of the preliminary hearing, ruling there wasn't enough evidence to for Rodriguez to stand trial for second degree murder.

He ordered Rodriguez to stand trial on felony hit-and-run causing death and driving on a suspended license. Prosecutors refiled the murder charge two weeks later, saying they still believe the evidence supports it.

Tucker's motion asks the court to review the preliminary hearing testimony and dismiss the charge again. If a judge agrees, state law would make it very difficult for prosecutors to bring it a third time.

There was also a brief discussion in court Thursday about whether Ryan, who already ruled on the evidence once, should be the one to decide the motion.

Rodriguez remains free on $2 million bail. He is required to wear a GPS monitor and an alcohol-monitoring device and has surrendered his passport.