Son Pleads Innocent to Attack That Left Father Unconscious

A disagreement over $200,000 sparked a vicious attack that left a Rancho Santa Fe man severely beaten and his adult son jailed on a charge of attempted premeditated murder, authorities said. The son pleaded innocent Wednesday.

Charles O. De Woody, 77, a retired lawyer, remained in critical condition and on life support at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla following the Aug. 31 attack on the patio of his home.

Charles Tremaine De Woody, 51, of Nevada City, Calif., pleaded innocent at his arraignment, and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for Sept. 22 in San Diego Municipal Court. If convicted, De Woody would face a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

De Woody was beaten with clay flower pots with such force that both his ears and part of his nose were torn off, Sheriff’s Sgt. Bob Plumbley said.

In addition, De Woody’s jaw was broken and his skull was fractured, Plumbley said, adding that De Woody has been unconscious since the attack.

The younger De Woody was arrested Saturday night as he stepped off a plane at Lindbergh Field. He is being held without bail at County Jail downtown.

De Woody, who receives income from a trust fund set up by his grandfather, asked his mother for $200,000 and became upset when his father blocked that request, Plumbley said. De Woody apparently wanted the money to build a house on a piece of property he had recently purchased, Plumbley said.