| For Immediate Release Case # 09HF1665 September 21, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
HUSBAND OF 50 YEARS TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR ATTEMPTING TO MURDER WIFE BY SHOOTING HER IN THE HEAD WHILE SHE WAS NAPPING
NEWPORT BEACH – A husband of 50 years is scheduled to be arraigned for attempting to murder his wife by shooting her four times in the head and once in the wrist while she was napping. Kenneth Joseph Leake, 75, Costa Mesa, is charged with one felony count of attempted murder and one felony count of elder abuse. The defendant is also charged with sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a firearm, personal use of a deadly weapon, personal discharge of a firearm, personally inflicting great bodily injury, and personally inflicting great bodily injury to an elder. If convicted, Leake faces a maximum sentence of 60 years to life in state prison. The defendant is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled for a continued arraignment on Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.
On Sept. 17, 2009, at approximately 12:00 p.m., Leake is accused of shooting his 72-year-old wife, Jane Doe, five times while she was napping inside their Costa Mesa home. The defendant is accused of shooting her four times in the head and shooting her once in the wrist using a .32 caliber handgun. Neighbors called 9-1-1. Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) officers arrived at the scene and had Jane Doe transported to Western Medical Center to be treated for her injuries. The victim is stable and expected to survive.
Leake was arrested by CMPD officers outside of their home. CMPD recovered the .32 caliber handgun from the dining room table.
The investigation is ongoing and being investigated by the CMPD Detective Bureau. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact District Attorney Investigator John Beerling at (949) 975-8117. Deputy District Attorney Heidi Garrel of the Family Protection Unit is prosecuting this case.
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