Terre Logsdon – Record-Bee staff
LAKEPORT ? The man accused of deliberately setting fire to the Lucerne home he shared with his girlfriend, resulting in her death, was in court Friday.
Charlton Bruff, 51, has been charged with four felony counts, including first degree murder and arson. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Bruff”s appearance in court Friday was for the purpose of determining his preliminary hearing and trial readiness, and setting a preliminary hearing in the case.
Bruff, who is being represented by public defender Stephen Carter, allegedly set the fire March 1 at the Frontage Road home he shared with 46-year-old Julie Gilbertson and her daughter, Rachel Harvey.
Gilbertson, a nurse at Sutter Lakeside Hospital, was trapped in the home”s bathroom until she was rescued. Due to her disability and recent surgeries for a neck injury, Gilbertson could not climb out of the window without assistance.
Another Lucerne resident, Kim Valencia, was on her way home from work when she saw the fire and stopped to help.
Although Gilbertson was rescued from the fire, she died on March 3 from carbon monoxide poisoning and inhalation injuries she suffered during the blaze.
Deputy District attorney Richard Hinchcliff is prosecuting the case.
The trial readiness hearing for Bruff is set for 8:15 a.m. on Oct. 20, the preliminary readiness hearing is set for 9 a.m. Oct. 23, and the preliminary hearing has been set for 9 a.m. Oct. 27 in Superior Court”s Department 3.
The trial is expected to last at least two weeks.
Contact Terre Logsdon at tlogsdon@record-bee.com.
