Sierra LaMar defendant pleads not guilty to murder
By Tracey Kaplan
tkaplan@mercurynews.com
Posted: 02/13/2014 02:00:20 PM PST | Updated: 52 min. ago
SAN JOSE -- Nearly two years after teenager Sierra LaMar disappeared on her way to a Morgan Hill bus stop, the man accused of killing her pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that could put him in prison for life or result in his execution.
Antolin Garcia-Torres, 22, also waived his right to a speedy trial within 60 days -- meaning his trial could be months or even years away, given the complexity of the case and gravity of the charges. He was indicted earlier this week by a criminal grand jury and is now charged with the kidnapping and killing ofSierra, who vanished March 16, 2012.
The courtroom was packed with Sierra's family and friends, all wearing red Converse shoes -- the girl's favorite. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Thang Nguyen Barrett sealed the grand jury transcript and set an April 16 hearing to decide whether to keep it sealed and to set a trial date.
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Garcia-Torres appeared in court wearing a brown suit, his hair neatly slicked back. He glanced at Sierra's supporters, then turned away for the rest of the 15-minute hearing.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen is still weighing whether to pursue the death penalty and has yet to even receive a recommendation from his death review committee.
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However, it is not uncommon for defense attorneys to find ways to stall in hopes that witnesses' memories will fade.
Boyd exercised his discretion to bypass a preliminary hearing and take the case to the grand jury instead.
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Rumors abound that Garcia-Torres will seek a change of venue on the grounds that he cannot get a fair trial because of intense publicity about the case. However, the last time a change of venue was granted in Santa Clara County was in 1980, when the county population -- and thus the jury pool -- was smaller. That's when the so-called San Jose Cheese Company murder trial involving the local Mafia was moved to Los Angeles County.
[URL=http://s1220.photobucket.com/u...42_ssjm0214torres06_300_zps19ccf307.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
(image caption: Mary Doerring wears a Sierra LaMar ribbon to the arraignment of Antolin Garcia-Torres who pleaded not guilty to murder at Santa Clara County Superior Court in San Jose, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. Garcia-Torres had been indicted earlier this week by a Santa Clara County Superior Court grand jury in connection with the alleged murder-kidnapping of missing Morgan Hill teen, Sierra LaMar. Garcia-Torres was arrested on May 21, 2012, two months after Sierra LaMar's disappearance. Doerring has been part of the search team for Sierra LaMar. (Gary Reyes/Bay Area News Group) (Gary Reyes)
Much More@Link
http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_25135697/sierra-lamar-defendant-pleads-not-guilty-murder
Latest update from close friend at courthouse is that the next hearing is to set the trial date (for potentially next year) and to hear a motion to seal the Grand Jury testimony. April 16th @ 1:30 p.m. #JusticeForSierra :heartbeat: