ARSON ARRAIGNMENT DELAYED FOR COUNTY FIREFIGHTER, WIFE.Byline: - Mary Schubert Arraignment A criminal proceeding at which the defendant is officially called before a court of competent jurisdiction, informed of the offense charged in the complaint, information, indictment, or other charging document, and asked to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or as otherwise permitted was postponed Friday for a Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County firefighter and his wife, both charged with arson Ask a Lawyer Question Country: United States of America State: Michigan Approximately 6 weeks ago, my boyfriend broke it off and proceeded to return a gift bag full of cards and letters I had sent. in connection with a fire last summer at a historic house they were trying to purchase. Prosecutors filed felony charges of setting fire to a structure against Roland and Heidi Sprewell. The Altadena couple made a brief appearance in Pasadena Superior Court before a judge agreed to let them enter pleas March 7. Roland Sprewell, 37, arrested Thursday, posted $50,000 bail and was released from jail. Heidi Sprewell, 36, surrendered Friday, but the judge waived bail, releasing her on her own recognizance own recognizance (O.R.) n. the basis for a judge allowing a person accused of a crime to be free while awaiting trial, without posting bail, on the defendant's own promise to appear and his/her reputation. . Defense attorney Vicki Podberesky said the couple are innocent of the allegations. ``It's a circumstantial-evidence case. They have no direct evidence linking Mr. or Mrs. Sprewell to the crime,'' Podberesky said after the hearing. On Friday, the Sprewells declined comment on the case. As a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department Not to be confused with Los Angeles Fire Department. The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), serves unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, as well as 58 cities and towns that choose to have the county provide fire and EMS services, including the City of La , Roland Sprewell provides the media with information on newsworthy events and is regularly quoted in print and broadcast outlets. Sprewell is a seven-year county Fire Department veteran, and ``he's been relieved of duty with pay, which is standard procedure,'' pending the outcome of the case, his attorney said. He had previously worked at the Pasadena Fire Department, a battalion chief there said. Authorities at the time said the fire broke out about 11:45 a.m. July 26 at the home, built in 1916, in the 1500 block of North Raymond Avenue in Pasadena. Officials said the blaze caused an estimated $170,000 damage to the home and its contents. The San Gabriel Valley The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of southern California. It lies to the east of the city of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and to the west of the Inland Empire. Arson Task Force investigated. The District Attorney's Office said that last summer, before the fire, a bank had refused to return a deposit the couple made on the house. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: News photographers swarm Roland Lee Roland Lee (born July 30 1964) is a retired competitive swimmer from England, who specialised in the 100 metres freestyle. He competed in three consecutive Summer Olympics for Great Britain, starting in 1984 (Los Angeles, California). References
Walt Mancini/Staff Photographer |
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