The defendants in the Matterhorn Court incident that destroyed three homes — Edgar Daniel Noice and Brandi Lee Loera — have a new attorney delaying their pre-preliminary hearing until December 4. (Contributed Photo)
By G. T. Houts
UPDATE: Tuesday, November 18 – 5:32 p.m.
San Bernardino, CA - Edgar Daniel Noice and Brandi Lee Loera — charged with four felony counts for their alleged role in the April 30 fire in Crestline that destroyed three homes on Matterhorn Court — have hired a new attorney. The change in defense lawyers has delayed their pre-preliminary hearing until 8:30 a.m. on December 4.
Criminal defense attorney Julian Ducre from Pomona was retained by Noice and Loera.
Both defendants were present in custody Tuesday before Judge Annemarie G. Pace. Judge Pace vacated a preliminary hearing that had been set for November 20.
ORIGINAL STORY
San Bernardino, CA – A pre-preliminary hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. in San Bernardino County Superior Court on Tuesday, November 18, for Edgar Daniel Noice and Brandi Lee Loera. The two are charged with four felony counts for their alleged role in the April 30 fire in Crestline that destroyed three homes on Matterhorn Court.
Edgar Daniel Noice and Brandi Lee Loera (Sheriff’s Department Photos)
Noice, 21, and Loera, 20, have entered not guilty pleas to the charges that include PC 252(A) – causing fire that caused great bodily injury, two counts of PC 452(B) – causing fire of an inhabited structure and one count of PC 11379.6(A) – manufacturing a controlled substance.
THE INCIDENT
The April 30 wind-swept fire that destroyed the three Crestline homes in the 24800 block of Matterhorn Court was reported about 7:50 p.m. Multiple fire crews battled to keep it from neighboring homes and additional vegetation.
One person was airlifted to an area hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the two-alarm fire. A total of three injuries were reported including Noice who sustained burns during the incident.
Roughly a half-acre of vegetation also burned, according to Cal Fire.
The so-called Matterhorn Incident brought a full response from San Bernardino County Fire, Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service.
LAST COURT APPEARANCE
During their last court appearance on November 15, Judge Annemarie G. Pace granted a continuance to defense attorney Joshua Matic from the Law Offices of David Chesley.
Sheriff’s Department documents show Noice is in custody at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. Bail is $725,000. Loera’s name does not show up in booking records.
Three homes were destroyed on Matterhorn Court in Crestline April 30 by a fire reportedly caused by an alleged drug manufacturing operation. (Photo by Tod Sudmeir/EPN)
(193)