By Jess Sullivan | Daily Republic | September 24, 2008 17:41
FAIRFIELD - The man accused of fatally shooting Councilman Matt Garcia pleaded not guilty to a murder charge during a brief court appearance Wednesday.
Henry Don Williams, 32, entered his plea after Solano County Chief Deputy Public Defender Susan Kauffman was appointed as his attorney. Kauffman received more than 800 pages of investigative reports from prosecutors for the Sept. 1 shooting of Garcia, 22.
Williams also pleaded not guilty to firearms charges, which along with the murder charge could result in a prison sentence of 51 years to life.
Williams, who is in jail without bail, was ordered to return to court in Vallejo on Monday in front of Judge Robert Bowers. Williams' alleged accomplice, Gene Allen Combs, 45, who pleaded not guilty to a murder charge earlier this week, is also scheduled to appear in front of Bowers on Monday.
After Williams' brief court appearance, Kauffman talked briefly about the extensive publicity surrounding the case. Any change of venue request would likely be raised shortly before or during jury selection for the trial.
Garcia's family members attended the arraignment, and some spoke briefly to reporters afterward.
'Our prayer is the perpetrators take responsibility for their actions,' said Garcia's stepfather, Raymond Courtemanche.
Williams was arrested in Las Vegas over the weekend, waived an extradition hearing and arrived in Fairfield on Tuesday night.
Williams and Combs allegedly accompanied Nicole Stewart to a Silverado Drive home in Cordelia Villages on the night of Sept. 1. Garcia had gone to Silverado Drive to visit a friend and was shot once in the back of the head after getting out of his car.
Stewart, 33, is now in protective custody as a critical eyewitness to the shooting. Prosecutors have opted not to charge her with any crimes for her involvement in Garcia's death.
Reach Jess Sullivan at 427-6919 or jsullivan@dailyrepublic.net.
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