Hearing for Slaying Suspect Postponed

The arraignment of a Pasadena businessman accused of fatally shooting two Upper Ojai residents was postponed Wednesday to give the suspect additional time to hire an attorney.

Michael Hugo Garcia, a 43-year-old La Crescenta resident, is charged with two counts of murder for allegedly killing Helen D. Giardina, 42, and her elderly father, Albert “Jim” Alexander, 83, last week at Alexander’s ranch house.

Garcia has not entered a plea on the charges, which make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted.

His arraignment is now set for June 11.

At a Municipal Court hearing Wednesday morning, Garcia appeared without the private attorney he requested a day earlier.

A public defender, who is not representing him, told the judge that Garcia had not been allowed to make the telephone calls to his lawyer and family that the judge had previously ordered.

Judge Steven Hintz told jail officials to make sure Garcia gets to make his phone calls and further requested that he be allowed to meet with his wife within the next two days.

The owner of a Pasadena mattress store, Garcia is accused of shooting Giardina and Alexander with a rifle and a pistol on the morning of May 22. Garcia owns property adjacent to Alexander’s ranch.