A judge declined to set any bail Dec. 2 for an El Cajon man accused of fatally shooting another man in the 6000 block of Stallion Oaks Road in El Cajon on Nov. 19.
Daniel Christopher Allen, 49, pleaded not guilty to the murder of James Owens, 31, in El Cajon Superior Court.
None of the details of the crime were discussed in court as there were no bail arguments made.
The sheriff’s department said deputies responded to a report of a shooting and stopped a car a mile and a half away from the scene. Someone was trying to drive Owens to the hospital.
Deputies attempted lifesaving measures until relieved by the Sycuan Fire Department, but Owens died before he could get to a hospital, according to the sheriff’s department.
A Jan. 20 preliminary hearing was scheduled. Allen remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility. He has a prior conviction for evading police officers in 2014.
Allen faces a maximum sentence of 77 years to life in prison if he is convicted and given consecutive sentences, said Deputy District Attorney Shane Waller.
•••
A 77-year-old woman was expected to be released from jail this week to a senior citizens program after she set a fire in Spring Valley by trying to put out a cigar with a flammable liquid.
Leona Head pleaded guilty to unlawfully causing a fire March 24 in the 500 block of Grand Avenue. She poured a liquid that was in a bottle labeled Clorox onto the lit cigar, but the liquid was not bleach.
“I take arson cases extremely seriously, especially now,” said El Cajon Superior Court Judge Robert Amador, on Dec. 4.
An electrical box caught on fire and it spread to a building containing small businesses in a strip mall. The roof was burned, but the fire was put out by the San Miguel and Bonita Sunnyside Firefighters.
Amador gave her credit for spending the last 8.5 months in jail. The judge said she had a long history of mental health problems.
“You have to make sure you stay on medication,” said Amador in imposing three years probation.
No one was injured in the blaze.
•••
Two former tax preparers in El Cajon have both posted $10,000 bond each on charges involving the filing of 18 false tax returns.
Mimi Bozzo, 60, and Vincent Bozzo, 60, now of Trinity, Texas, have pleaded not guilty to all charges which also include conspiracy to defraud the U.S.
When they operated in El Cajon, they did so under the names of A to Z Tax Preparation and All Pro Service, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
The indictment alleges they filed false tax returns by inflating tax credits and refunds by encouraging their clients to create receipts for income the taxpayers did not earn.
The total of false claims to the IRS was $1.4 million, according to the U.S. Attorney.
“Over the course of several year, the Bozzos knowingly prepared and filed hundreds of false tax returns,” said Ryan Korner, IRS criminal investigation special agent.
