Willard hearing is rescheduled

A pre-trial hearing scheduled this week for the man accused of the attempted murder of two police officers outside a Kmart last year has been moved to Oct. 14.

Jamie Warren Willard, 31, of Gresham, Ore., who allegedly used an officer’s gun to shoot at the officer and his partner while handcuffed, is in custody in lieu of $3 million bail, according to the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Department.

Willard’s public defender, John Love, said the reason for the delay is because evidence discovery is ongoing and a trial may not take place until early next year.

On Aug. 23, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to proceed with a trial after two days of testimony in a preliminary hearing that revealed how events allegedly unfolded on July 2, 2010. Prosecutors say Willard shot and wounded two police officers in an effort to escape custody.

Willard did not appear in court this week.

-- Maria Hsin, Times Community News