CLEARLAKE ?Michael Gil Truscott, 30, of Clearlake pleaded not guilty Friday to allegations of murder related to the September shooting death of a Clearlake man.
Public Defender William Conwell entered a plea of not guilty and denial of all allegations on Truscott”s behalf Friday morning before Judge Stephen Hedstrom. Truscott”s next court appearance is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Jan. 29 in Lake County Superior Court Department Four Clearlake for the purpose of setting a preliminary hearing and reviewing a probation violation.
Truscott is charged with the shooting death of Anthony Cruz, 30, who died of a single gunshot wound to his chest on Sept. 4. According to Cruz”s girlfriend, Kelly Clasen, who witnessed the incident, Cruz was shot in the early morning hours of Sept. 4 when he attempted to confront trespassers on his property. Clasen said that Cruz stuck his head out a bedroom window to yell at the trespassers, who were allegedly attempting to steal his medical marijuana, when he was shot.
Clasen maintains the belief that theft of the medical marijuana was not the primary motive because the plants were immature and those targeted were less accessible than those left undisturbed. “I don”t think they were there for the weed at all,” she said. “They were there to kill Anthony.”
In addition she said that Cruz and Truscott had been in a physical altercation about two days prior to the shooting.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
