Pretrial proceedings in the case against Stanley Virgil Lloyd Jr. are moving ahead, with a preliminary hearing set for June 29 in the El Cajon courthouse, according to prosecutor David Williams II.
Lloyd is charged with murder in the death of El Capitan High School student Christopher Carioscia, 17, of Santee. Carioscia's body was discovered on the Barona Indian Reservation on Dec. 4. His burned-out car had been found on the reservation on Oct. 27, 2010.
Carioscia had called his mother from Barona Casino late in the evening of Oct. 26, saying he would be home in an hour after visiting friends. It was the last she heard from him, according to an autopsy report. The report showed Carioscia had been shot numerous times from behind and that his system was laced with methamphetamine, morphine and marijuana.
Lloyd was arrested March 4 at his home in the Lakeside area of the reservation. He pleaded not guilty to the murder charge on March 8. The charge is coupled with an allegation that he used a firearm in the course of the homicide. Together, they carry a possible sentence of 50 years to life in prison.
Attorneys for both sides met with a judge on Wednesday for a readiness conference to establish dates for the case. The original preliminary hearing date of May 31 was pushed back to allow for a status conference on that date, deputy district attorney Williams said. At that time, the attorneys will update the judge about whether witnesses have been lined up and all necessary reports have been received, he said.
Readiness and status conferences, while technically public hearings, usually proceed into the judge's chambers so that attorneys can privately discuss matters leading up to the trial, Williams said.
The preliminary hearing on June 29 is when initial information about witnesses and evidence and the gist of the case will be presented before the public, he said.
Williams said there have been no negotiations for any plea bargain.
It has been reported that the two young men had known each other for most of their school years.
