Defendant in Thousand Oaks bank teller's killing 27 years ago heads to trial
The man charged with murdering Thousand Oaks bank teller Monica Leech 27 years ago is headed for trial following a preliminary hearing on the case that prosecutors say was finally broken with advances in DNA technology.
Ventura County Superior Court Judge Derek Malan determined there was enough evidence to send the case to trial Wednesday after about a dozen witnesses testified at a three-day hearing in a Ventura courtroom. They included coworkers who were at the bank when the 39-year-old woman from Camarillo was killed, crime laboratory personnel and law enforcement.
Prosecutors alleged that defendant Kevin James and another unidentified man robbed Western Financial Bank on April 28, 1997, but that James was the one who shot and killed Leech. Defense counsel, though, said the evidence is insufficient to show James was the shooter.
The San Bernardino man is expected to plead not guilty to the same charges he faced after his arrest: one count of murder plus the special allegations that he killed Leech while robbing the bank and that he personally used a firearm. His arraignment is scheduled at 9 a.m. April 24 in courtroom 11 in Ventura.
James pleaded not guilty to those charges after he was arrested a year ago. The same charges will be filed now that the case is entering the trial phase, said Joey Buttitta, a spokesman for the Ventura County District Attorney's Office. James will plead not guilty, defense attorney Donna Forry said.
Prosecutor Richard Simon said he would expect the defense to set a date for trial or an early disposition conference where the attorneys and a judge will discuss scheduling of the case.
On Wednesday, Malan ordered James, 57, to be held without bail at county jail where he has been since his March 2023 arrest.
Authorities have identified the second alleged robber, according to Simon. But under a change in state law, he cannot be charged with murder based merely on his participation in a robbery where a murder occurred, Simon said. Nor can he be charged with robbery because the statute of limitations has expired, the attorney said.
Kathleen Wilson covers courts and local government issues for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at kathleen.wilson@vcstar.com.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Defendant in Thousand Oaks bank teller's killing heads to trial
