January Trial Date Set For Man Accused In 2005 Spring Valley Murder

A late January trial date was set Friday for a man accused of killing a handyman in Spring Valley more than six years ago.

Robert James Lewis, 36, is charged with second-degree murder in the May 2005 death of 35-year-old James Scott Slusser.

Lewis was scheduled to be released from prison last August for an unrelated offense, but was instead arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody in lieu of $10 million bail.

Judge Allan Preckel set the trial for Jan. 23 at the El Cajon Courthouse.

Authorities said Slusser's family reported him missing on May 18, 2005. Three days later, emergency personnel put out a truck fire in the 9800 block of Bonnie Vista Place in Spring Valley and found Slusser's body stuffed in a large utility box in the bed of the vehicle.

The specific cause of death was ordered sealed.

– City News Service