A Sonoma County judge on Monday ordered murder suspect Ryan Dietz to stand trial for the shooting death of a romantic rival outside a downtown Santa Rosa brew pub.
In a brief hearing Judge Dana Simonds said prosecutors offered sufficient evidence during a three-day preliminary hearing last week to place Dietz on trial.
Dietz is accused of shooting Jack Romero, 33, of Santa Rosa.
The two men were in a love triangle with a Santa Rosa woman and the emotions turned violent June 28 outside Third Street Aleworks in downtown Santa Rosa, according to prosecutors.
Dietz was furious after discovering Garicka Rush, the mother of three of his children, was having an affair with Romero, said prosecutors.
Romero and Rush had been at the brew pub late that night. Dietz allegedly followed Romero as he left the bar and shot him, prosecutors said.
Simonds said she spent the weekend reviewing evidence offered during last week's lengthy preliminary hearing. She said she found there was enough information to show Dietz, 30, committed the crime and that he should proceed with the court process.
Family members of the victim and suspect were in court Monday.
"We're pleased the justice system got at least this far with this," said Christine Romero, Jack Romero's mother.
Christine Romero and her two sisters dabbed tears from their eyes following the hearing.
Dietz has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His attorney, Andy Martinez, met with Dietz's family members after the hearing.
Martinez and those family members declined to comment.
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