By ILY GOYANES
Correspondent

PORT ORCHARD — Geraldo Castro DeJesus, accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend, 29-year-old Heather Kelso, and her roommate’s son, 2-year-old Kaden Lum, in East Bremerton in March, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Aug. 21 in Kitsap County Superior Court.

The prosecutor’s office charged DeJesus with two counts of first-degree murder — one with a special allegation of domestic violence — and one count of first-degree assault. The initial charges are subject to change as more evidence becomes available, say prosecutors.

DeJesus was arrested without incident at approximately 8:30 a.m. Aug. 20 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, where he worked as a painter in Shop 71. Another shipyard employee, who asked that her name be withheld, stated that employees were “freaked out” after the arrest and that Kelso previously worked in the same paint shop.

At the pre-trial hearing, Judge Kevin Hull, who is overseeing the case, granted prosecutor Coreen Schnepf’s request that bail remain at $2 million. Hull also granted the prosecution’s request for a no-contact order, prohibiting DeJesus from contacting the victims’ families.

DeJesus and Kelso lived together with their 3-month-old daughter at the Kariotis Mobile Home Park until Kelso filed for a protection order against DeJesus in February. In Kelso’s petition to the court, she wrote, “I am fearful that the violent behavior I have described in this petition will continue or escalate now that I have ended the relationship.”

The petition, which stipulated that DeJesus vacate the residence, was granted by the court on March 5. Just over three weeks later, DeJesus allegedly returned to the mobile home park and shot Kelso, the child, and a neighbor in Kelso’s home; the neighbor survived.

DeJesus is being represented by Bremerton attorney Thomas Weaver, as ordered by Hull. The next pre-trial hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 11. According to the Kitsap County Clerk’s Office, trial is tentatively scheduled to begin Oct. 19, but will probably be rescheduled for a later date.