Bowen history cont - false information

Daily Press News Article, July 2, 1975, Change of Venue Denied, New Count added to Ware's troubles

"VICTORVILLE - John Alan Ware was arrested by sheriff's deputies again Tuesday in Victorville Municipal Court just seconds after the judge denied a change of venue for the retrial of the case which ended in a hung jury last month.

Ware was charged this time for giving false information to a police officer.

The charge stems from an incident Saturday night when a bulldozer used by Ware for road-grading stalled, partially blocking the county road to the Bowen Ranch House and Deep Creek warm springs toll gate.

Ware was cited by sheriff's officers dispatched to the scene Saturday night for blocking a county road and failure to have the bulldozer properly licensed.

The false information complaint was lodged later. According to Sgt. Charles Sodaro. Ware told sheriff's officers that the bulldozer could not be started and thus could not be moved from the road. Ware then subsequently started and moved the machine when it became evident that the officers meant to put the bulldozer on a flatbed truck and impound it, Sodaro said.

Ware waived formal proceedings and requested the judge arraign him for the new matter on the spot. Ware pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. A pre-trial hearing was scheduled for July 22, with a trial date of Aug 2.

Lee Mandell, attorney for Ware, requested a change of venue for the retrial of the case against Ware charging interference with the duties of a police officer. Ware was arrested on that charge in April as the result of a confrontation with local sheriff's officers when one of his six sons was erroneously arrested for grand theft of an automobile.

A trial of that case last month ended in a hung jury - 11-1 for conviction.

Mandall argued that extensive publicity and coverage of Ware's activity by the Daily Press precluded the likelihood that an unbiased jury could be selected from this area.

Judge Theodore G. Krumm, presiding while Judge William J. Johnstone is on vacation, denied the motion, saying that he had read the articles and saw no reason that they should influence readers against the Wares. A new trial is set for Aug 17."