KELSEYVILLE — Brian Thomas Pearson posted bail and pled not guilty in charges that stemmed from a shooting over the alleged theft of a mixed-breed Labrador.
Investigation is ongoing in the case of a man who was in court Friday to answer charges in the alleged shooting of his neighbor in a dispute over the theft of a mixed-breed Labrador.
Pearson, 39, of Kelseyville, faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon, with a special allegation of using a .38-caliber double-barreled Derringer handgun and for personally inflicting great bodily injury on the victim. He appeared in Dept. 2 of the Lake County Courthouse before Superior Court Judge Richard L. Freeborn. According to Deputy District Attorney John Langan, this is standard practice for a defendant until they have had a chance to meet with an attorney.
Pearson met with his court-appointed defense attorney Bruce Laning for the first time at his Friday court date, also common practice. Pearson posted $25,000 bail, which rendered him free of custody at the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Person has waived his right to a speedy trial and his right to a speedy preliminary hearing, standard practice for defendants who post bail.
Pearson is set to appear again in Dept. 2 at 9 a.m. Jan. 19 for either a disposition or the setting of a preliminary hearing date. Langan said although a resolution on that date is unlikely, the DA”s office wants to move forward with the proceedings as quickly as possible because of the violent nature of the alleged crime.
According to the report from the Lake County Sheriff”s office, Pearson and another man were allegedly waiting for neighbor William Hardy at the end of his driveway when he returned home. Hardy told deputies that Pearson used a stun gun on him after words were exchanged about the alleged dog theft. Pearson then allegedly shot Hardy in the left thigh during the physical fight that ensued.
Since the Dec. 18 incident, said Langan, additional reports were submitted to the DA giving sufficient grounds to add a charge of unlawful use of a stun gun to the initial complaint.
Langan said the whereabouts and alleged theft of the mixed-breed Labrador has not been confirmed.
Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson is prosecuting the case. Anyone with additional information about the incident is asked to contact her or Deputy District Attorney John Langan at the DA”s Office at 263-2251.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
