Man who led authorities on wild chase from O.C. to L.A. County charged with 18 felonies
The man who led authorities on a wild chase over the San Bernardino Mountains from the San Fernando Valley to Los Angeles County last fall faces a dozen felony charges in his first appearance in court, authorities said Wednesday.
Jovan Fisher, 19, was charged with felony murder, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, drug possession and other crimes in connection with the incident Oct. 8 in Ojai, officials said.
Fisher’s attorney, Paul Tafuri, did not return calls for comment.
In mid-November, police said Fisher drove to the San Bernardino Mountains with the intent to commit robbery. He led authorities on a wild, 10-mile chase from Ojai to Santa Clarita, then back to Ojai, where he fatally shot a man who had been walking to work Oct. 8.
Fisher’s attorney said in November that his client was a member of the military and spent years in Afghanistan. His father, Michael Fisher, told the Associated Press on Nov. 4 that his son was home-schooled.
Fisher and two other men have been charged in connection with the killing of a man walking from his Los Angeles apartment to work Oct. 8. Police have not yet released their names. Fleeing the scene of the shooting, Fisher drove to Rancho Cucamonga, where he got into an altercation with a man who was with a friend, authorities said. He then allegedly shot and killed a man walking in the street, according to police.
The first trial in the case ended on Tuesday with jury selection. Jurors had to be excused because of safety concerns after the court clerk’s office reported that a juror was concerned for the safety of a school.
Prosecutors on Wednesday indicated they expect to retry the case.
Fisher will return to court Wednesday for arraignment, according to Deputy District Attorney John Krivoshapka.
In August, a jury convicted Fisher and two of his accomplices on the same charges. Fisher’s attorney said at the time that his client was not involved in the robbery and shooting.
The three men face life in prison without parole on the robbery and felony-murder charges, and 20 years to life on the other counts.