Arraignment Delayed in Car-Seat Knife Case : Courts: Trial date will be set Wednesday for man accused of wedging blades in women’s vehicles.

A Ventura man accused of stalking young women and wedging knife blades into the seats of their cars will be arraigned Wednesday on 28 felony counts, a judge ruled Monday.

The public defender’s office received the two-day delay Monday in Ventura County Municipal Court to allow defense attorneys more time to study the case, Deputy Public Defender Richard E. Holly said.

Gary Jean Muntifering, 53, was arrested by Burbank police Tuesday night in a K mart parking lot when investigators staking out the area matched the description of his vehicle with a witness’ report. Dozens of 1 1/2-inch commercial knife blades were found inside his black Nissan pickup truck when he was taken into custody.

Muntifering was transported to Ventura County Jail for prosecution Thursday, after Simi Valley investigators linked him to more than a dozen similar attacks at shopping centers in Simi Valley June 10-14.

Two women shopping at a Vons store in Burbank also were targeted by Muntifering, said Burbank police officials, who conducted the investigation jointly with Simi Valley police.

Muntifering is charged in the Ventura County case with suspicion of 14 counts of attempted mayhem and another 14 counts of assault with a deadly weapon, Deputy Dist. Atty. James D. Ellison said. Muntifering could be sentenced to state prison for nearly 17 years if convicted on all counts, Ellison said.

Muntifering is accused of placing the industrial blades into the car seats of at least 14 Ventura County women while they were shopping at Simi Valley stores, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Gregory D. Totten, who will supervise the case.

Muntifering apparently targeted only young women who had left their cars unlocked. He made no attempt to approach the victims, who ranged in age from 17 to 32, investigators said.

Seven of the women suffered cuts to their legs after returning to their vehicles, with several of the wounds requiring stitches, Burbank police said.

“I’d be speculating as to any motive, but all the victims were young, attractive females,” Totten said.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office will await the outcome of the Ventura County case before deciding whether to proceed with charges in that county, Totten said.

Police said Muntifering is an out-of-work commercial fisherman who has lived in Ventura County for the past seven years.

Holly, who argued Monday for a week-long delay in the arraignment, said he had not yet met with Muntifering to discuss the felony case.

“I’ve had no contact whatsoever with the accused, so it’s routine in a case such as this that we’re given a few days to study the case,” he said.

Holly asked Judge Bruce A. Clark to reduce his client’s $250,000 bail, but Clark denied the request.