long were you and Mr. Hernandez
a couple?
>> About four years.
>> Judge Judy: Now, during a
period of that time, he was
incarcerated.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And while he was
incarcerated, did you visit with
him?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: When he came out
of jail, did you renew your
relationship?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: So, he came out
of prison when?
Mr. Hernandez?
>> January 19th of 2014,
actually.
I was incarcerated in juvenile
hall.
>> Judge Judy: For how long?
>> Almost six months.
>> Judge Judy: So it's been a
long time since you had a
relationship of any kind with
Ms. Reeves.
And how old were you then?
>> I was 17.
>> Judge Judy: And how old were
you, Ms. Reeves?
>> 17.
>> Judge Judy: Now, I want you
to tell me, Mr. Hernandez, what
happened on July 24th of this
year?
>> Well, on July 24th, I was out
walking my dog, and I had got a
call from my friend here that
Ms. Reeves was at my doorstep,
looking for me.
>> Judge Judy: Would you stand
up, please?
Tell me your name, sir.
>> Benny Ma.
>> Judge Judy: Are you a
neighbor?
>> A friend.
>> Judge Judy: Were you at his
house?
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy: Were you staying
at his house that day?
>> Yeah, 'cause I usually go
over there and play games with
him.
>> Judge Judy: At about what
time was this that you called
and said Ms. Reeves was at the
door?
>> I do not know per se.
It was around noonish time.
>> Judge Judy: In the afternoon?
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy: Where were you,
Mr. Hernandez?
>> I was out walking my dog,
about 15 minutes away.
>> Judge Judy: Prior to July
24th, when had you last seen
Ms. Reeves?
>> I want to say about a month
and a half or two months before
when she again rushed into my
house.
>> Judge Judy: What do you mean
rushed into your house?
>> She came into my house again,
uninvited.
>> Judge Judy: Did you ever
report her to the police?
>> Yes, I did.
And I tried filing for a
restraining order, and I was
denied.
>> Judge Judy: Before that -- so
let's say this was in July,
you're talking about June, May,
April, March -- did you have any
social interaction with her at
all?
>> None.
>> Judge Judy: So you hadn't
been out with her on a date
since you were 17?
>> Pretty much.
>> Judge Judy: So, you turned
around.
You got a call from your friend,
who was at your house.
You turned around, and you got
back to your house with your
dog.
What kind of a dog do you have?
>> I have a dingo/pit-bull mix.
>> Judge Judy: Got back to the
house and...
>> I find Ms. Reeves in my
living room and --
>> Judge Judy: Did you let her
in?
>> Um, kind of.
She kind of, like, pushed her
way in.
>> Judge Judy: Well, what does
that mean?
You said kind of.
>> Yeah, like...
>> Judge Judy: Did you let her
in?
>> No, she, like, pushed her way
in a little bit.
>> Judge Judy: What is a little
bit?
>> Like, I was hesitant on
letting her in, but then, when
she just started pushing, I just
let, like, her in.
>> Judge Judy: And what did she
do?
>> I just waited there, and I
called Orlando.
>> Judge Judy: Did she tell you
to call Orlando?
>> No, she said she was looking
for him.
>> Judge Judy: Did she say why?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Why were you
looking for him?
>> I was not looking for him.
>> Judge Judy: What were you
doing in his living room?
>> I wasn't in his living room.
He let me in. He let me in.
>> Judge Judy: Who let you in?
>> I called him prior to that
because I asked him for some
money, and he agreed, and he let
me in.
>> Judge Judy: Who let you in?
>> Orlando. He was there.
>> Judge Judy: Orlando is
Mr. Hernandez?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: So he let you in?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Not his friend?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
So, you hadn't actually seen him
in a couple of months, is that
right?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Now, when you
last saw him, did he call the
police?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Never called the
police?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: You were never
interviewed by the police?
>> No, just that day of the
incident.
>> Judge Judy: You mean on July
24th?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Now, what did you
call him for?
>> If he can lend me 20 bucks.
>> Judge Judy: Why?
>> Because I was in need of some
money at the time.
>> Judge Judy: Well, you hadn't
seen him in a very long time.
>> I hadn't, but when he got
out, he...
>> Judge Judy: He got out in
2014.
>> Your Honor, he was let out
2015, January 2015, not 2014.
>> Judge Judy: Is that right?
>> Yeah. I'm sorry about that.
>> Judge Judy: 2015.
[ Laughter ]
What did you need 20 bucks for?
>> For my personal need.
>> Judge Judy: No, tell me what
you needed 20 bucks for.
>> To buy some snacks or...
>> Judge Judy: You needed
snacks?
>> Yeah.
[ Spectators murmuring ]
>> Judge Judy: What happened,
Mr. Hernandez, when you got back
with the dog?
Sit down.
>> Well, I proceeded to let her
know that she's not wanted
there, she needs to leave.
At this point, she starts
arguing back with me, and I
immediately call the cops and
get them on the line.
>> Judge Judy: What do you for a
living, Ms. Reeves?
>> I work at a T.J. Maxx.
>> Judge Judy: And you,
Mr. Hernandez?
>> I take care of my father.
>> Judge Judy: What's wrong with
him?
>> He's disabled.
>> Judge Judy: Do you live with
him?
>> Uh, currently, yes.
>> Judge Judy: What is that?
That's a hesitation,
Mr. Hernandez.
>> Well, my dad, he gave up his
apartment, and he's gonna be
moving into -- he's waiting to
get certified for a brand-new
apartment before he moves in, so
I told him he can stay with me,
you know, until he gets his
place.
>> Judge Judy: So he stays with
you?
>> Yes, at this moment, but,
during that time, he wasn't.
>> Judge Judy: Are you paid as a
caregiver for him?
>> Yes, I am.
>> Judge Judy: By whom?
>> IHSS.
>> Judge Judy: How much do you
get?
>> About $1,400.
>> Judge Judy: A what?
>> A month.
>> Judge Judy: How old is your
father?
>> He's 45.
>> Judge Judy: What's the nature
of his disability?
>> He's double-below amputee.
>> Judge Judy: Did he have a
caregiver other than you before?
>> Yes, he has.
>> Judge Judy: How long have you
been his caregiver?
>> About June of 2015.
>> Judge Judy: Did you finish
your GED when you were
incarcerated?
>> Yes, I graduated, and I
walked the stage March of...
well, May -- no, June 2nd of
this year.