Brothers Deny Guilt in Claes Murder Case : Courts: Sixth and seventh young men arrested deny knowingly hiding gun allegedly used to kill 14-year-old.

Two brothers charged as accessories to the murder of 14-year-old Carl Dan Claes pleaded not guilty Friday.

Kyle Sieple, 18, and Christopher Edward Sieple, 24, of Tustin looked at the floor as their attorneys told a Municipal Court judge their clients were not guilty of knowingly receiving and hiding a stolen .22-caliber pistol allegedly used to kill the eighth-grader on May 16.

Judge Charles Margines reduced bond from $170,500 to $50,000 each and ordered the two to return to court June 20 for a pretrial hearing.

The Sieple brothers are the sixth and seventh suspects arrested in the slaying, which investigators say was prompted by a dispute over Claes’ $2,500 sound system.

Michael Consiglio, an attorney for Christopher Sieple, said after the arraignment that the Sieple family “is decent, and he seems like a decent kid. Christopher has never been convicted of anything heavy.

“The question here is whether or not they knew the gun was stolen and was used in a murder,” Consiglio said. “They say they didn’t.”

Kyle Sieple was arrested Wednesday at his home. Christopher Sieple already was in jail for failing to appear in court on charges of driving with a suspended license. Court records show he has been convicted of that charge at least five times since 1990.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Carolyn Kirkwood said she will try to prosecute all defendants cases personally. “I am pleased with the way the investigation has progressed,” she said.

Claes’ grandfather and guardian, Dan George, 73, said the “Sheriff’s Department has done a wonderful job. Now seven people are off the street. It’s wonderful.”

Claes was fatally shot and left in a Lemon Heights ditch a mile from his home May 16. Thomas Miller, 16, and Jason Merritt, 17, have been charged with murder. Kirkwood said she will seek to try them both as adults. Three juveniles from Tustin have been charged as accessories to murder. Investigators have not named them because of their ages.

Police allege that Miller shot Claes once in the head at close range while Merritt stood by. Afterward, they went out for fast food and, shortly after that, they gave the gun to the Sieple brothers, Sheriff’s Lt. Dan Martini said.

Miller and Merritt will appear in court Friday for a pretrial hearing. George, who accompanied Claes’ mother, Danella George, to court, said he will attend all of the hearings of the seven defendants.