Jury Selection Begins in Trial for the Murder of an El Capitan Student; Key Prosecution Witness Arrested

Jury selection is scheduled to begin today in the case against a Lakeside teenager accused in the death of a former schoolmate on the Barona Indian Reservation last year.

of first-degree murder following the  in an isolated area near Barona Speedway in December 2010.

Carioscia and Lloyd had known each other since elementary school days in Lakeside, according to friends of Carioscia's family.

At the preliminary hearing in June, prosecutor David Williams III brought in witnesses who told the court of drug use by both men and a possible plan by Lloyd to take Carioscia's life. The stories revolved around a fire pit party on the reservation, in which Lloyd is said to have brandished a handgun and boasted that he had killed several people. One witness remembered him saying he had dumped a body near there.

Carioscia was 16 when he was last seen alive. His mother told law enforcement that her son called her from Barona Casino near midnight on Oct. 26, 2010, and told her he was going to see some friends and he would see her at home that night. She said she never heard from him again. Her car, which he had been driving, was found burned out on the reservation the next day. Carioscia's body was found riddled with gunshot wounds about six weeks later, off Wildcat Canyon Road. An —a possible heroin metabolite.

 into whether others were involved in the crime has continued this year, Williams said. No other defendants have been charged.

A key witness in the case is Lloyd's cousin, , who testified under immunity with the District Attorney's Office in the preliminary hearing. Last month, Montiel was arrested and booked into San Diego Central Jail on charges related to the transportation and selling of narcotics and the use of false identification. The booking record is attached to this story.

Prosecutor Williams told Ramona Patch that he could not discuss the terms of Montiel's immunity in the preliminary hearing or what changes might occur as a result of Montiel's arrest.

Montiel was arraigned Oct. 25 and pleaded not guilty, according to a clerk at the El Cajon courthouse. One felony readiness conference was held for Montiel this month and another was due, which means Montiel's case is proceeding as if it could go to trial.

During the preliminary hearing, Montiel admitted lying to a detective out of fear during the investigation into Carioscia's death. When prosecutor Williams asked Montiel on the stand whether he knew what could happen to his immunity if he lied in court, Montiel answered, "The deal's off."

Montiel was a minor when he testified in the hearing. He is now 18.

Lloyd was 19 when he was arrested at his home in March. If convicted in the murder trial, he faces a sentence of 50 years to life in prison.