Jose Fuentes, 23, is charged with one felony count each of special circumstances murder, first degree robbery, and first degree residential burglary.
Police say Fuentes stole the victim's credit cards, cell phone, and electronic equipment, including his flat screen TV, and loaded the stolen property into Cerecer's Toyota sedan.
If convicted, Fuentes faces a minimum sentence of life in prison with no possibility of parole. He is being held without bail. Police say the two apparently had a one-month relationship.
Investigators say Cerecer was attacked as he slept in his Santa Ana apartment.
