header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
December 28
2011 - John Ford's 1924 "The Iron Horse," filmed in SCV, added to Library of Congress' National Film Registry [story]
title card


A 21-year-old Newhall man who was charged with killing a friend he knew since childhood pleaded not guilty in court today, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

David Aladana faces one count of willful, deliberate, and premeditated murder.

The felony complaint includes the allegation that the murder was committed with a handgun.

According to the criminal complaint, Maximiliano Bernal, 22, was shot to death on or between Feb. 23 and 24. Aladana turned himself in at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office in San Ysidro on Feb. 24, prosecutors said.

Bail for the defendant is more than $2 million.

If convicted as charged, Aladana faces 50 years to life in state prison.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

29 Comments

  1. Now that’s FAKE friend.

  2. Didn’t he tell authorities last month that he shot and killed his friend? Then showed them where he dumped the body?

  3. Josh Larson says:

    But he turned himself in.. We live in a very strange society…

  4. yeah you know he’s regrets saying anything to anybody. society lol..here we go again lets all point fingers judge and speciulate lol

  5. Dwee Gee says:

    Show some respect, this effects both families.

  6. So sad , does anyone have a picture of the guy who shot him? This is Really sad . So the guy was supposed to be his best friend ?. That’s crazy. . Why he shot him for ?

  7. No rude comments please.

  8. I guess after realizing he might be in prison for life, he changed his mind.

  9. David is a nice guy I know he didn’t do it that was one of his good friends God bless both of there family’s

  10. Media says a lot of things, that could be true or not to get publics reaction. We dont know. All we know is what was said on that first article.

  11. #ripmaxbernal ??? we love
    You kid. && David is in my prayers as well. I know both of these kids and people shouldn’t bash either one because this is a very sad thing. ? we don’t know what happened. Until then…. People shouldn’t put two sense.

    • Exactly , that’s so very true nobody knows what happened except the boys and God , people just need to be compassionate for everybody who is suffering from this sad sad situation both sets of families have lost . The whole thing is devastating for everyone .

    • Nicole Cruz says:

      Nobody knows what happened but it doesn’t mean someone needed to die because of it! Killing is not the answer!

    • And I agree, these are my friends! I had to watch my friend get buried on Friday & now we have a friend who’s in jail. It’s a very sad thing. But until we know what happens like I said before people shouldn’t assume. I don’t think what David did is ok. But I’m not going to sit on social media and bash him

  12. El sabe muy bien lo que hizo,entre cielo y tierra nada se esconde,llegara la justicia para Max, después de todo, quien la debe, la paga, Existe la ley divina. Y llegará, el tiempo no perdona!!!

  13. Nothing is worth taking someone’s life. And whomever committed this horrific act must face the consequences. Prayers to the family of the victim.

  14. Chris Avila maybe you could reach out to the parents!

  15. Shirley says:

    wow, really? Not Guilty after he already said he did it? Can someone explain this to me…

  16. Elisa Borjas says:

    Paulinna A. Campos

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Saturday, Dec 27, 2025
UPDATE: All Lanes of I-5 Now Open in Castaic, Gas Leak Stopped
The California Highway Patrol has announced that all lanes of the Interstate 5 freeway in the Castaic area have been shut down in both directions to a possible ruptured gas line.
Saturday, Dec 27, 2025
Sunny Weather for SCV, Cool Temps, Roads Reopen
The National Weather Service reports that the Santa Clarita Valley was drenched with nearly nine inches of rain from the atmospheric river that brought a soggy Christmas week to most of California.
Saturday, Dec 27, 2025
CHP Christmas Holiday Enforcement Period Results
During the 2025 Christmas Holiday Enforcement Period, California Highway Patrol officers were on duty across the state, responding not only to enforcement needs but also to significant winter weather impacts, including snow, flooding and mudslides.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
2011 - John Ford's 1924 "The Iron Horse," filmed in SCV, added to Library of Congress' National Film Registry [story]
title card
The California Highway Patrol has announced that all lanes of the Interstate 5 freeway in the Castaic area have been shut down in both directions to a possible ruptured gas line.
UPDATE: All Lanes of I-5 Now Open in Castaic, Gas Leak Stopped
At this time last year, we had no idea what changes and challenges 2025 would have in store. What I did know, and what this year reaffirmed, is that whatever 2025 brought our way, we’d get through it together.
Kathryn Barger | 2025 Year in Review
The National Weather Service reports that the Santa Clarita Valley was drenched with nearly nine inches of rain from the atmospheric river that brought a soggy Christmas week to most of California.
Sunny Weather for SCV, Cool Temps, Roads Reopen
The city of Santa Clarita is seeking five artists to create artwork on five 60-inches by 60-inches canvases that will be featured above the Valencia Library Branch's children's area for two years, May 18, 2026 through May 23, 2028.
City Seeks ‘Under the Sea’ Artwork for Valencia Library
During the 2025 Christmas Holiday Enforcement Period, California Highway Patrol officers were on duty across the state, responding not only to enforcement needs but also to significant winter weather impacts, including snow, flooding and mudslides.
CHP Christmas Holiday Enforcement Period Results
Bring passport applications and all required documents to the Passport Community Fair, 1-5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 at the Old Town Newhall Library.
Jan. 9: Passport Community Fair at Newhall Library
1936 - Passenger plane crash in Rice Canyon kills all 12 aboard [story]
victim recovery
The city of Santa Clarita has issued a traffic alert for Sand Canyon Road.
Sand Canyon Road Closed Due to Road Damage, Rock Slides
Property Management Professionals will hold its grand opening and ribbon cutting 4-4:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29 at 25124 Springfield Court #220, Valencia, CA 91355.
Jan. 29: Property Management Professionals Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting
The California Highway Patrol is highlighting new public safety laws passed during this year’s legislative session and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom that, unless otherwise stated, take effect Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.
CHP Highlights Public Safety Laws Taking Effect 2026
Kaiser Permanente has awarded a $12,000 Community Health Grant to Bridge to Home to help address homelessness in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Kaiser Permanente Presents $12,000 Grant to Bridge to Home
Boys and girls Foothill League soccer teams have been on holiday schedule this past week, with some teams taking time off and others playing non-league matches. Consequently, league standings haven’t changed much.
Foothill League Soccer: Holiday Non-League Matches
College of the Canyons women's basketball notched another mark in the win column, as the Cougars were able to stack a second straight road victory 54-46 at Oxnard College on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Cougars Notch Another Victory, 54-46 at Oxnard College
1873 - Vasquez gang raids Kingston in (now) Kings County; ties up townspeople, makes off with $2,500 in cash and jewels [story]
Kingston
The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station has issued the following traffic alerts: Due to heavy rains, the westbound right lane is closed on Soledad Canyon Road between Camp Plenty Road and Langside Avenue.
SCV Sheriff’s Station Issues Traffic Alert on Soledad Canyon Road
Fostering Youth Independence’s recent Charlie Brown Holiday party was attended by dozens of local foster youth and their volunteer Allies.
Fostering Youth Independence Hosts Holiday PJ Party
The National Weather Service as issued the following alerts for the Santa Clarita Valley. Flood Watch until Dec. 26, 4 p.m. PST, High Wind Warning until Dec. 25, 3 p.m. PST.
NWS Issues Flood Watch for SCV Through Friday
1852 - Acton gold mine owner & California Gov. Henry Tifft Gage born in New York [story]
Henry Gage
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger is urging residents to remain vigilant as a powerful storm system moves through Los Angeles County, bringing periods of heavy rain and rapidly changing conditions.
Barger Urges Residents to Stay Alert, Follow Evacuation Orders
Thirteen suspects were arrested, and more than $800,000 in stolen merchandise was recovered following a coordinated, multi-agency operation targeting an organized retail theft network operating across Northern California.
CHP Makes Multiple Arrests in Organized Retail Theft Investigation
The California State Transportation Agency today announced a new joint effort by two of its departments, the Department of Motor Vehicles and California Highway Patrol, to curb excessive speeding and prevent deadly crashes.
Pilot Program to Crack Down on Extreme Speeding
The city of Santa Clarita invites the community to heat up the holiday season at the Holiday Spice Salsa Edition on Saturday, Dec. 27, at the Canyon Country Community Center, located at 18410 Sierra Highway Santa Clarita, CA 91351.
Dec. 27: Holiday Spice Salsa Edition at Canyon Country Community Center
1965 - Signal newspaper owner Scott Newhall shows up for a duel (of words) with rival Canyon Country newspaper publisher Art Evans, who no-shows and folds his paper soon after [story]
headline
SCVNews.com