Pre-Trial Hearing for Mercedes Carrera Case Set for August 8

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.—The long-stalled sex abuse case against adult performer Mercedes Carrera and her partner Jason Whitney, aka Daemon Cins, is finally set to move forward, with Judge Katrina West today scheduling a pre-trial hearing for August 8 at the San Bernardino County Superior Court. Carrera and Whitney have been incarcerated at the West Valley Detention Center since their arrest on February 1, 2019 on charges that they had repeatedly sexually abused a then-nine-year-old girl, whom Carrera later acknowledged to be her own daughter.  Bail was set at $2 million for each defendant in June of that year, but unable to gather that amount, they have remained behind bars ever since as the trial has gone through dozens of delays. Today's proceeding was a "trial readiness" hearing where counsel went before Judge West to discuss whether they were ready to go to trial. Defense cousel is public defender Geoff Newman, who has been involved with the case as far back as early 2021. Prosecuting counsel is district attorney Gina Florick. With both sides now prepared to move ahead, the pre-trial hearing was set, where it will be determined whether the case will proceed to a jury trial.