Preliminary Trial of Lompoc Prison Guard Accused of Murder - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

LOMPOC, Calif- The preliminary hearing for Timothy McNally is being held today in a Lompoc Court where this case has been since McNally's arrest back in early March.

McNally has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder with a special enhancement of using a gun to kill someone in the shooting death of Victorville Federal Prison guard Gary Bent whose body was found inside a room at the Embassy Suites Hotel on H Street in Lompoc on March 8. 

McNally's defense is that the shooting was a tragic accident because he and Bent were good friends and were getting along fine in the hotel room when the gun accidentally discharged killing bent as he lay in the bathtub. 

Keith Carls will have live updates from the court house, you can follow them on Twitter @kcoy.

Read more about this case:

FBI Investigating Death of Lompoc Prison Guard

Funeral Finally Held For Lompoc Prison Guard

Lompoc Prison Guard Making First Court Appearance on Murder Charge

Lompoc Prison Guard Appears in Court on Murder Charge

Arraignment Delayed for Lompoc Prison Guard Charged with Murder

Timothy McNally Pleads Not Guilty for Murder of Lompoc Prison Guard

Lompoc Prison Guard Enters Not Guilty Plea to Murder Charge

Prelim Delayed for Lompoc Prison Guard