Gardena Man Arraigned in Bludgeoning Death of La Crescenta Man, 73

A Gardena man accused in the bludgeoning death of a 73- year-old La Crescenta man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a murder charge.

David Xavier Bushman, 44, was charged Feb. 3 with the July 2015 killing of Arthur George Palmer, who was found dead in the attached garage of his home in the 3000 block of Frances Avenue.

Sheriff’s deputies went to Palmer’s house last July 24 to check on his welfare after a neighbor reported that he had not seen or heard from the man for a while.

The criminal complaint alleges that Bushman used a mallet in the commission of the crime and that he has prior convictions in 1991, 2003 and 2009 for felonies that include robbery and false imprisonment.

Bushman -- who is jailed in lieu of $1 million bail -- is due back in a Pasadena courtroom April 5, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.

He faces up to 38 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock