SANTA BARBARA – Lanie Tyrone Richardson, the man charged with second degree murder in the alleged car surfing accident was in court for his arraignment on Wednesday morning, but the case was continued to Thursday.
Richardson is in custody and was brought into court in a red jumpsuit and handcuffs but the media was not allowed to film or take pictures of the defendant. He will be back in court on Thursday where a public defender will be appointed for his case.
"And from there it will be up to the public defender whether we'll set it for a preliminary hearing or continue it for further arraignment while they review the discovery," said Deputy District Attorney Von Nguyen.
Attorney Steven Andrade was hired to represent Richardson but the family is unable to pay for his services.
Attorney Josh Webb stepped in and volunteered to work the case pro bono. He said he feels the second degree murder charge for the death of Allison Meadows isn't justified.
"I wanted to help out. I thought it was that justice wasn't necessarily being served and that's why I offered to do that as kind of a Good Samaritan kind of thing," said Webb.
But in order to work pro bono, the court would have to pick up the tab for experts and further investigation. A judge denied the request.
Webb did speak with Richardson at the county jail and said the 28-year-old Santa Barbara man is remorseful.
"I think his heart goes out to the Meadows' family. I don't think that was his intent at all was to hurt or injure anybody.
"It's really an unfortunate set of circumstances of course in terms of what the evidence suggests is that the two girls, Ms. Meadows and Ms. Keebler were engaging in what's considered a very reckless and dangerous activity and that being car surfing," said Webb.
