Attorney Pleads Not Guilty to Murder-for-Hire : Courts: Stuart Jeffrey Sandrock of La Jolla is charged with soliciting a jail inmate to kill a former client.

A La Jolla attorney pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of soliciting a jail inmate to murder one of his former clients, a convicted drug peddler who previously attempted to have the lawyer removed from his case.

Stuart Jeffrey Sandrock, 38, was arrested Friday at his La Jolla offices when he accepted a machine gun from undercover officers, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Stephen Anear.

The prosecutor also said that Sandrock had “symptoms consistent with narcotics intoxication” and made statements to police that were “bizarre and irrational” when he was taken into custody.

“He stated he would kill anyone who double-crossed him,” Anear told San Diego Municipal Judge Robert McDonald.

Anear said Sandrock contacted a County Jail inmate about acquiring a fully automatic AK-47 assault rifle, and it was during these discussions that he allegedly attempted to set up the murder-for-hire. Anear said there is no evidence indicating that the potential hit man was also one of his clients.

Court documents show the conversations allegedly took place between Oct. 26 and Nov. 12.

“Many of the conversations about which we are referring to were tape recorded,” Anear said.

Anear would not comment any further on the case or how Sandrock became the target of investigators who were looking into gang-related activity.

The alleged victim in the case is a 34-year-old convicted drug seller. Citing concerns for the alleged victim’s safety, both Anear and the mother of the alleged victim asked that the inmate’s name be kept secret.

The drug seller attempted to have Sandrock taken off his case on Aug. 10, the day his trial was scheduled to begin.

After a Municipal judge denied the request, he pleaded guilty to one count of selling methamphetamine.

The man’s criminal file does not indicate the reason why he wanted Sandrock dismissed.

“This is a continuing investigation,” Anear said. “At this time I am not free to discuss what we believe the possible motives are.”

Sandrock was admitted to the bar in June, 1991. He has been arrested at least three times, according to prosecutors.

He was arrested on gun and marijuana charges in Maryland in 1974, on aggravated assault charges in Idaho in 1983, and on charges of possessing illegal ammunition and allegedly assaulting his spouse in Chula Vista last year, Anear said.

Both state and federal prosecutors are considering filing more charges against Sandrock, but Anear would not elaborate.

“We’re analyzing evidence and statements at this point to determine if additional charges are appropriate,” he said.

Sandrock is being held in lieu of $500,000 bond, but he will attempt to have the bond lowered at a hearing on Friday.