Trial date set for trio accused of abducting, killing Anza man

City News Service

Special to the Valley News

A March 17 trial date was confirmed on Friday, Feb. 17 for three men accused of abducting, severely beating and fatally shooting an Anza man because they believed he might snitch on them for perpetrating thefts at marijuana cultivation sites.

George Frank Holley Jr., 39, of Oklahoma City, Joe Anthony Serna, 37, of Anza and Nico Manuel Zahir, 28, of Anza are accused in the slaying of 42- yearold Brian Messina.

Each defendant is charged with first-degree murder, assault resulting in great bodily injury and a special-circumstance allegation of killing during the course of a kidnapping. Serna and Zahir are additionally charged with firearm assault, making criminal threats and false imprisonment.

During a status conference at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta Friday, Feb. 17, Riverside County Superior Court Judge John Monterosso conferred with the prosecution and defense regarding scheduling, and all sides agreed to work toward clearing their calendars for proceedings beginning the third week of March.

Each defendant is being held without bail at the Byrd Detention

Center in Murrieta.

Sheriff’s investigators allege that the men suspected Messina was secretly gathering evidence against them in connection with multiple armed thefts at illegal cannabis grows in the Azna Valley.

Holley was the first to make the allegation against his former friend, according to an arrest warrant affidavit filed by sheriff’s Detective Lance Stoyer.

He wrote that Holley had witnessed Messina using his mobile phone to record audio of conversations the men had concerning the thefts. “Holley privately spoke to Serna about the recordings and planned

Living Free Animal Sanctuary dog of the week Meet Daphne

to search Messina’s cellular phone without Messina’s knowledge or consent,” according to the affidavit.

The men were ultimately able to access the phone, and while scanning data, “Serna saw a social message that Messina had sent (stating) that if he — Messina — were to go missing or found dead, Serna would be responsible for the murder,” Stoyer wrote.

The three alleged conspirators became convinced Messina was a liability, prompting a confrontation at a residence in the 39600 block of Howard Road in Anza on the night of Nov. 29, 2020, according to the affidavit.

In a later interview, Holley told investigators that a verbal altercation erupted, and Serna and Zahir attacked the victim, with Zahir pistol- whipping him and Serna kicking him multiple times, the affidavit alleged. The defendants beat Messina into submission, then forced him into a Toyota Tundra pickup and drove to a remote section of Bautista Road, where they all got out, at which point Zahir used a shotgun to execute the victim on the side of the road, Stoyer alleged. None of the defendants have documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

Meet Daphne! She is an 8-yearold female terrier mix. Daphne is a free-spirited girl. She loves people and looks forward to daily walks and playing in the park. Daphne is a spunky, happy dog. She prefers being the center of attention and would do best in a home without other animals.

Daphne would love an adopter that will spend time with her and make her a part of their lives.

Living Free is a nonprofit animal sanctuary whose primary mission is to rescue dogs and cats whose time is up at public shelters.

Living Free Animal Sanctuary is located on 155 acres in the San Jacinto Mountains near Idyllwild, California. A diamond in the rough, the property is home to our kennel-in-the-round, Give Life Park, catteries and protected openair “catios”, breathtaking scenery, and wide open fields for the wild mustangs and rescued burros to run free.

Open by appointment

For dog adoptions, call (951) 321-9982, for cat adoptions, call (951) 491-1898, and for other inquiries, call (951) 659-4687.

To book a tour, visit www. living-free.org/visit-us . Living Free is located at 54250 Keen Camp Road in Mountain Center.

WINNER from page D-1 to compete in the Lions Club Zone, District, Area and Final contests for a chance to win a $10,000 scholarship.

Students entering the contests needed to prepare a talk to be as close as possible to, but not over 10 minutes or less than five minutes delivery time. Contestants are allowed to use their notes at the club-level contest.

No watches, identifying badges or school uniforms, prompters, or props are allowed to be worn or used during these events.

For more information regarding the Lions Club of Anza Valley, please email Greg Sandling at President.AnzaLions@gmail.com or visit them at www.facebook. com/LionsofAnzaValley.

Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia. com

From left, Nuview Lion Amanda Wilcox, Lions Club of Anza president Greg Sandling and District 4L5 Treasurer and Nuview Lion Andrea Green oversee the competition at the Lions Club 86th Annual Student Speakers Contest Thursday, Feb. 16.

ROADS from page D-1 solid and creating some of the most dangerous road conditions residents have seen in recent decades.

“You know, it has snowed many times,” Sage resident Eleni Malandrinos said. “I’ve left my house and the roads were always fine, but this time was the most freakiest ever. I have never seen it this bad ever since I moved here in 1996.”

The US National Weather Service San Diego reported Feb. 15, “It sure is chilly out there this morning. Check out the preliminary lows from this morning, with most areas not having seen temps this cold for 2-3 months, and a few seeing their coldest lows of this winter so far. One inch of snow was reported all the way down to about 2,500 feet in San Diego County last night.”

Additional record lows were recorded Thursday, Feb. 16 across Southern California.

Roads that were covered by sleet and snow iced overnight and created havoc for commuters Wednesday morning. School buses attempting to pick up students were forced to shelter in place temporarily and school called off for the day. Many residents were forced to stay in their homes until the road conditions improved. R2 chain requirements were enacted for Hwy. 371 and 74. Cars and trucks slid off roads, unable to gain traction on the icy asphalt. Officially, Anza experiences an average of just over five inches of snow each winter. This number indicates that some years receive less and some more of the cold snow, resulting in that average mark.

According to records kept from 1943-2005, average precipitation received in the Anza Valley is 12.79 inches per year, with average snowfall totals recorded at 5.8 inches.

Legal Advertising