A man accused of fatally shooting Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell at his Hacienda Heights home pleaded not guilty to one count of murder on Wednesday.
Armenui Superior Court Judge Amy Ashvanian ordered Carlos Medina, 61, to remain in jail on a bond of just over $2 million pending his next arraignment on May 17 in downtown Los Angeles courthouse.
This is when a court date will be set to determine if there is enough evidence to compel him to stand trial.
Medina is charged with the murder of the Bishop, 69, on February 18, as well as an allegation that he personally used a firearm.
Medina could face between 35 years in prison and life in prison if convicted, according to George Gascón, district attorney.
Bishop O’Connell was found dead by a deacon who fetched the bishop because he had missed an appointment. Authorities were called to the Bishop’s residence at his residence in the 1500 block of Janlu Avenue at 1 p.m.
According to Sheriff Robert Luna, there were no signs of a break-in. Gascon said O’Connell had multiple gunshot wounds.
Medina is the husband of O’Connell’s housekeeper, but Medina also performed maintenance work on the Bishop’s house, according to the sheriff.
The sheriff said advice from the public helped investigators reach Medina, with one in particular noting that “Medina was acting strange, irrational and making comments about the money owed to him by the bishop. “.
Officials from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles highlight the Bishop’s work in their community.
But Luna refrained from saying such an argument led to the murder, saying it was “something that came out of one of the witnesses”.
Medina was arrested on February 20 after being barricaded for an hour at his home in the 2400 block of Kenwood Avenue in Torrance.
The sheriff said last month that two firearms were recovered from Medina’s home and were being examined to determine if either were involved in the shooting.
Luna also said Medina’s wife was interviewed and was “fully cooperative” with detectives.
O’Connell was originally from Ireland and had served as a priest and then bishop in Los Angeles for 45 years.