Local News in Brief : Not Guilty Plea in Arson
John Turner, 20, pleaded not guilty to charges of arson and assault with a deadly weapon Wednesday, the same day his big brother Joe, 25, was buried.
The men come from a family of nine brothers that have had a history of trouble with the law. Three are dead. Of the remaining six, Vernon is awaiting trial for murder, and Andrew, Larry and Noah are in jail for other crimes. The remaining brother, Moses, was taken into custody for questioning last week and released.
The Turners came to public attention last week when Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies went to their Watts home seeking the arrest of “Little John” on narcotics charges.
During that raid, Joe Turner was shot to death by a deputy who believed he was reaching for a weapon. Though weapons were found in the house, Joe Turner was unarmed.
Police allege that John Turner, who was not at home at the time of the raid, later angrily burned a detective’s car left parked outside the house and fired an automatic weapon at a California Highway Patrol officer directing traffic.
At the request of Los Angeles Deputy Dist. Atty. Jim Grodin, who described him as a “clear and present threat to the community,” John Turner was ordered held without bail.
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