Bail was set at $200,000 April 10 for a 20-year-old man charged with robbing and shooting a 74-year-old man with a taser who had placed an ad on Craigslist for a date.
Lucas Churchill Holmes, of El Cajon, pleaded not guilty to robbery, elder abuse, burglary and identity theft for using the victim’s credit card following the incident April 8 in the man’s own home.
The College area victim gave an interview to KNSD-TV (Channel 7 and 39) in which he said he placed an ad for a date and talked to one man who never showed up. He said he forgot to lock his back door and awoke at 1:15 a.m. to see a man wearing a stocking cap standing over his bed.
He said the man tased him, then dragged him to the bathtub, and tied his arms and legs. He showed the interviewer rug burns on his legs which came from being dragged.
The victim said he was afraid he would be killed. However, he added that the intruder also brought him pillows to lay his head in the bathtub so he could be more comfortable.
The burglar found a shotgun in the man’s home and showed it to the victim, who said the weapon was sentimental, and the man put the shotgun aside. He said he was robbed of $600 and his credit and debit cards were taken.
The facts of the case were not discussed in detail before San Diego Superior Court Judge David Szumowski. Deputy District Attorney Scott Pirrello suggested the $200,000 bail amount and Holmes’ lawyer agreed to it without any argument.
The identity theft charge involves Holmes’ alleged use of the victim’s credit card that same day. San Diego Police arrested Holmes after they tracked down his phone number and e-mail address that he used on Craigslist.
