Suspect in Traffic Slaying Freed
Howard F. Barton Jr., who is awaiting trial in the shooting death of a National City man, has been released from County Jail downtown on $1 million bail.
Defense attorney Clyde Munsell said Superior Court Judge Jesus Rodriguez revoked Barton’s no-bail status after hearing testimony from several witnesses who said Barton did not have a penchant for violence.
According to Munsell, Barton’s mother posted a $2-million property bond to secure bail for him Wednesday.
Barton, 47, was being held in connection with the slaying of Marco Sanchez, 24, after a minor traffic dispute involving Sanchez and Barton’s daughter, Andrea Barton. After the altercation, the Bartons reportedly went looking for Sanchez and found him shopping in a store on Garnet Avenue.
Witnesses testified at Barton’s preliminary hearing in May that a series of arguments ensued between Sanchez and Howard Barton, with Sanchez walking away from Barton each time. Howard Barton allegedly followed Sanchez to the victim’s parked car and shot him once in the back.
Munsell argued that Barton feared for his life and said that Sanchez had attacked Barton with a knife. However, none of the witnesses at the preliminary hearing testified to seeing a weapon in Sanchez’s hands.
Barton has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 1.
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