Mar 27, 2007 2:23 pm US/Pacific
Judge Seals Indictment In 2004 Peninsula Arson
REDWOOD CITY (BCN) ―
The grand jury transcript charging a Half Moon Bay commercial fisherman with the 2004 arson-related deaths of his two young children will remain temporarily sealed from the public, a San Mateo County Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday morning.
Plea entry for Charles Schuttloffel Sr., 36, was again delayed Tuesday after defense attorney Dek Ketchum asked Judge John Grandsaert to keep the transcript sealed in order "to avoid adverse pretrial publicity."
Schuttloffel's entry of plea has already been postponed twice since his arrest by San Mateo County Sheriff's deputies on March 12, after being indicted by a criminal grand jury on one count of arson and two counts of murder in connection with a May 4, 2004 fire that destroyed his home, located in a remote area on Seaside School Road in San Gregorio.
The remains of Schuttloffel's two sons, Charles Edward "Charlie" Schuttloffel Jr., 3, and William Leonard "Billy" Schuttloffel, 2, were later found inside the home, the sheriff's office reported.
Schuttloffel's wife Lana, a schoolteacher who was not home when the fire took place, has said that her husband was not responsible for the crime.
"Anyone who knows Chuck knows this is nothing that he's capable of," she said after Schuttloffel's initial arraignment on March 13.
A sheriff's office spokeswoman announcing the arrest declined to provide details of the evidence against Schuttloffel.
Though Schuttloffel became a suspect shortly after the fire, Lt. Lisa Williams said on March 12, the arson investigation was tedious and he was not charged until recently because much of the evidence in the case had been burned, she said.
According to San Mateo County Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, if found guilty, Schuttloffel could face up to life in prison, or the death penalty, should the district attorney's office choose to pursue this as a capital case.
Ketchum, who is currently in trial on another case, said he will be filing a formal motion to have the grand jury transcript sealed. That motion is to be heard before Grandsaert on April 17.
A date for Schuttloffel's further arraignment and plea entry is expected to be set that day as well. He remains in custody on a no-bail status.
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