Santa Maria - The Santa Maria man accused of shooting and killing his father and wounding his stepmother at a family Labor Day Barbeque in Orcutt has made his first court appearance.
Brian Reid is accused of murder and attempted murder in the shooting death of his father and the wounding of his stepmother at Orcutt Community Park on Labor Day.
Reid appeared for his arraignment in Santa Maria Court in street clothes, and not the standard County Jail orange jumpsuit, and pleaded not guilty to the murder and attempted murder charges against him.
Reid is also denying the special allegations against him including using a gun to kill someone.
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's office claims there is little it can say right now about the case.
"The reason the prosecutors can't talk significantly outside the courtroom, that how the BAR and the law have balanced the public's right to know with the defendant's right to a fair trial with a jury that has not prejudged the facts", says deputy District Attorney Brooke Gerard who is currently assigned to the case.
Brian Reid's daughters and his estranged wife claim Brian was retaliating against his father at that Labor Day barbeque in Orcutt for allegedly sexually abusing at least one of Brian Reid's daughters over the past several years.
Brian Reid is being held in Santa Barbara County Jail with no bail and will return to court next month for the setting of his preliminary hearing.
