An attorney entered not guilty pleas Friday on behalf of a man charged with assaulting another man at Bakersfield Speedway, inflicting serious head injuries.
Mark Anthony Raimondo also requested a preliminary hearing in late October for his client, Kyle Flippo, “due to the nature of the case and medical records.”
Superior Court Judge Eric Bradshaw set the hearing — in which a judge determines if there’s enough evidence to order a defendant to stand trial — for Oct. 24.
Flippo, 39, is out of custody after posting bond on $50,000 bail. He towered over Raimondo as he stood at the attorney’s side during the arraignment.
Flippo is listed in court records as 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds.
Witnesses told sheriff’s officials Flippo hit 20-year-old Zachary Diamond June 9 following a race at the track that evening, according to court documents. Diamond fell and lost consciousness.
He was taken to a hospital and, while not in a coma, was mostly unresponsive in the days after the incident, said Diamond’s mother, Linda Valdez.
The altercation happened near the technical inspection area where the top finishers go following the race. Flippo is the father of Jerry Flippo, who finished fourth, while Zachary Diamond is the brother of Jacob Diamond, who finished sixth.
Flippo is charged with assault on a person with force resulting in great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury. Both are felonies.
No other criminal cases are listed against him in Kern County.
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