FLORENCE — A Pinal County Superior Court judge this afternoon scheduled a jury trial for Isaiah Bandin during a brief hearing at the county courthouse. 

The teen will stand trial starting Dec.16 for the deadly shooting of Estaban Valenzuela in the Maricopa Meadows late last year. Bandin appeared before Judge Jason Holmberg in the customary blue polo shirt and khaki pants, standing next to his attorney, Cody Weagant.  

Weagant and prosecutor William Wallace sat in the jury box before the hearing discussing the case. Wallace approached four members of Valenzuela’s family before the hearing to tell them about the planned trial date. The murder case will be tried in front of a traditional 12-person jury starting at 8:30 a.m. 

Although Bandin is being tried as an adult, Holmberg barred InMaricopa’s cameras from the proceedings, citing his age. 

Bandin’s hair was neatly combed in a fresh bowl cut. He spoke twice, leaning into a microphone on the defense table’s lectern, telling the judge his birthday, Aug. 6, 2009; and again, telling Judge Holmberg that he understood the proceedings’ outcome. His voice was deep but boyish. 

 Holmberg laid out the deadlines for discovery and set the final pre-trial conference for Nov. 17 at 9 a.m., nearly the one-year anniversary of the slaying, asking that the two parties try to reach a plea deal before the trial.  

“I encourage the parties to continue to negotiate in good faith. It may be beneficial to try to have a settlement conference in a case like this,” said Holmberg.  

Bandin left the courtroom flanked by Pinal County sheriff’s deputies. He glanced timidly at the gallery before quickly averting his eyes to the floor and walking slowly toward the holding area through a door at the front of the courtroom. Bandin’s mother was in the gallery and immediately left the courtroom in tears. 

Through the victim’s advocates, both families involved have declined comment today. Repeated calls for comment to Weagant have not been returned.  

Bandin’s co-defendant, Eliot Jackson, 17, is standing trial independently. Jackson’s case is not listed in Arizona’s e-Access system, which journalists use to obtain case files. The reason for the omission isn’t clear. 

Two other teens were involved in the murder, according to the authorities, a 16-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl. The level of cooperation between those other teens and the prosecutors remains nebulous.