A Dec. 9 trial date was set Thursday for a Northern California man accused of shooting his sister’s boyfriend in Ocean Beach.
Lance Touchstone, 41, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and discharging a firearm. The Alternate Public Defender’s Office was appointed to represent the defendant, who faces 19 years in prison if convicted.
Jeff Renteria testified during a preliminary hearing last month that Touchstone came to San Diego to stay with him and his girlfriend — the defendant’s sister — four or five days before the Aug. 8 shooting. Touchstone brought a gun with him, Renteria said.
Renteria said he and his girlfriend were having communication “issues” at the time, but tried not to talk about their problems in front of the defendant.
Renteria said he grew suspicious of Touchstone and put the defendant’s gun and two of his girlfriend’s guns in the attic while he went to work.
Renteria said he came home on Aug. 8, unlocked the door and took a photo of his girlfriend and Touchstone sitting on the couch, with a gun sitting next to the defendant.
“It was a huge shock to me,” Renteria said.
Renteria said he ordered Touchstone to leave, but the defendant fired four shots, hitting him in the wrist, elbow and rib cage. The victim said he had a kidney removed and his liver repaired as a result of the shooting.
At Touchstone’s arraignment, defense attorney Jim Fitzpatrick said the victim had drug issues and lived in a nearby garage. The attorney alleged Renteria had engaged in previous acts of violence against Touchstone’s sister, and that she and Renteria had already broken up.
Fitzpatrick also said Touchstone and his sister believed Renteria had stolen their firearms.
The attorney said the case involved “legitimate self-defense” and was not some random shooting.
Judge David Danielsen set a readiness conference for Dec. 1.
–City News Service