DAD TO STAND TRIAL IN INFANT'S DEATH.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - A 21-year-old Lancaster man has been ordered to stand trial for murder in the death of his 6-week-old son, who died after his head was slammed against a hard surface.

Infant David Jesus Hernandez was pronounced dead in April at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles after he was taken off life support devices, prosecutors said.

``The coroner called it abusive head trauma,'' Deputy District Attorney Tashawn Sanders said.

David Henry Hernandez was ordered to stand trial on charges of murder and child abuse following a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

The baby's mother, 19-year-old Sheila Valenzuela, was bound over for trial on a charge of child abuse.

The baby was malnourished and not growing, and there were recurring rib fractures, indicating he had been injured before, Sanders said.

``The judge felt that if she didn't know that abuse was going on, there was reasonable suspicion that she should have known,'' said Michael Eberhardt, Valenzuela's attorney. ``He felt there was enough to hold her over for trial.''

The father was in custody in lieu of $1 million bail. The mother remained free after posting bond.

The baby was treated by paramedics April 17 at the family's home on Sundell Avenue in Lancaster. His father was arrested early the next day.

Valenzuela was arrested two days later in the courtroom where Hernandez was arraigned on child-abuse charges.

After the baby died April 21, prosecutors added a charge of murder against the father, and upgraded a child abuse charge against him and the mother from child abuse resulting in brain injury to child abuse resulting in death.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com