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Homeland Man Pleads Not Guilty In Beating Acquaintance To Death With Rock

RIVERSIDE (CBS) — A Homeland man pleaded not guilty Thursday to fatally beating an acquaintance whose remains were found behind a Perris business.

Jorge Alejandro Martinez, 42, is charged with murder and weapons use allegations in the June 20 death of Sergio Corona.

Martinez appeared today before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Becky Dugan, who set a felony settlement conference in the case for Aug. 1.

The defendant remains held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

According to prosecutors, Martinez allegedly attacked Corona with a rock and a tree branch, pummeling the victim with both objects. The defendant then dumped the Murrieta man's remains in a planter behind a shop in the 200 block of North D Street.

The reasons for the attack were not disclosed.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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