SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A man who police say stabbed his girlfriend to death at an apartment on Clifford Avenue in July was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail Thursday after being extradited from Arizona.
Alberto Scalant, 33, is being held without bail. He has been charged with the murder of 32-year-old Robin Kern, and also faces weapons charges.
He made his first court appearance on Monday, where his arraignment was postponed until Oct. 12.
Scalant’s criminal record includes two previous serious felonies—a case involving kidnapping, battery and burglary from 2007 and one from 2017 that included convictions for burglary, stalking and false imprisonment, court records showed.
Because these are considered “strikes” under California law, he faces life in prison if convicted for the murder, said Santa Cruz County Assistant District Attorney Erika Ziegenhorn.
Investigators say Scalant fled to Mexico after the murder, and was arrested at a checkpoint in that country within 48 hours after Watsonville Police issued an international alert, spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said.
At the time of the murder, Scalant was on parole for domestic violence and false imprisonment, court records showed.
