Five Plead Not Guilty in Two Car Firebombings

Five defendants charged in the firebombing of automobiles in San Bernardino County last summer, including two Dana Point women, pleaded not guilty Monday in Los Angeles federal court. Trial was set for July 22.

The pleas were entered by Charlotte Ruth Wyckoff, 51, Elizabeth Leta Hamilton, 39, Franklin Joseph Camper, 39, Paul Johnson, 42, and James Larosa Cuneo, 22. The government disclosed later in the day that Cuneo had agreed to testify for the prosecution.

A sixth defendant, William Dean Hedgcorth, 23, is expected to be brought to Southern California from Rhode Island on Thursday to join the other defendants.

The prosecution team, composed of Assistant U. S. Attys. Charles H. Stevens and David W. Wiechert, told U. S. District Judge Alicemarie Stotler on Monday that Cuneo reported that Camper planned the firebombings, bought firebomb material and drove the car during the crime.

Wyckoff and Hamilton, owners and operators of preschools and elementary schools in Orange and San Bernardino counties, were accused of hiring Camper, operator of a paramilitary school in Alabama, and three part-time instructors to intimidate and assault former employees.

Cars belonging to Robyn and Michael Rishoff of Etiwanda and Harriet and Richard Russo of Ontario were firebombed early on the morning of Aug. 13. The Rishoffs and Harriet Russo had worked at schools run by Wyckoff and Hamilton and had filed complaints with authorities.