Crime & Safety
Man Accused of Killing Spring Valley Handyman Has Hearing Postponed
Robert James Lewis, 36, is charged with second-degree murder in the May 2005 death of 35-year-old James Scott Slusser.
A preliminary hearing was postponed Wednesday for a man accused of killing a handyman in Spring Valley in May 2005.
Robert James Lewis, 36, is charged with the second-degree murder of James Scott Slusser.
Lewis, who was scheduled to be released from prison in August 2010 for an unrelated offense, was instead arrested on suspicion of Slusser's death. After his arrest, his bail was set at $10 million. He has been in custody ever since.
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Authorities said that Slusser's reported him missing on May 18, 2005. Three days later, emergency crews were called to the 9800 block of Bonnie Vista Place in Spring Valley to put out a truck fire. Slusser's body was discovered stuffed into a large utility box in the bed of the truck.
The preliminary hearing is now scheduled for Aug 31, and will determine whether there is enough evidence to necessitate a trial. Lewis will appear in court on Aug. 26 for a motions hearing.
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City News Service contributed to this report.
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