EL CAJON (CNS) - Two young women and three young men accused of killing a homeless man during a fight under a highway overpass in Santee pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of murder and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury.
Cassidy Rowin, 18, Sarah Baillie, 18, Tyler Dare, 19, Brian Kish, 18, and 19-year-old Danny Swan III were each ordered held in lieu of $1 million bail in the death of 55-year-old Stephen Lee Hissom.
The defendants face a sentence of 29 years to life in prison if convicted. They will be back in court Dec. 10 for a readiness conference and Dec. 16 for a preliminary hearing.
Hissom's death was reported around 5:20 p.m. Saturday in the 9300 block of Mission Gorge Road, underneath state Route 52, according to San Diego County sheriff's Lt. John Maryon.
A juvenile was also arrested, but authorities withheld the identity because the suspect is a minor.
A second homeless man, who is 49, was also injured in the altercation with the six suspects but declined medical attention at the scene.
The reason for the fight was unclear.