Arraignment in Deputy’s Slaying Is Postponed
- Share via
LAGUNA NIGUEL — The man accused of gunning down an Orange County sheriff’s deputy over the weekend made his first court appearance Tuesday.
A tired-looking Maurice Gerald Steskal, 39, appeared before Superior Court Judge Carl Biggs, who appointed Assistant Public Defender David Dworakowski to represent Steskal.
Dworakowski asked for a postponement for the arraignment. A new date has been set for July 2 in Biggs’ courtroom at the South Justice Center in Laguna Niguel.
Steskal, who would be eligible for the death penalty if convicted, stood shackled in a pressed white shirt and bowed his head through the brief proceeding.
He is accused of killing Deputy Brad Riches, 34, early Saturday in front of a Lake Forest convenience store.
The slain officer’s funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at Saddleback Valley Church in Lake Forest.
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.