San Diego

Jo Alice Lochmiller, the mother of convicted investment swindler Stephen Lochmiller, pleaded innocent Thursday to 24 counts of securities sales violations and was released on her own recognizance. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 9 on the charges, but defense attorney Peter Hughes asked Municipal Court Judge Laura Hammes to set a Feb. 22 disposition conference, at which time a settlement is possible. Mrs. Lochmiller, 58, resides in Richardson, Tex., and surrendered on the charges Thursday. The charges stem from the alleged sale to investors of unregistered corporate notes for Lochmiller Industries Inc. in 1982.