An El Cajon man’s preliminary hearing has been rescheduled to June 2 in the attempted murder of television sports director Kyle Kraska in a Feb. 10 shooting outside Kraska’s home.
Mike Montana, 54, had his preliminary hearing rescheduled April 16 in San Diego Superior Court. The hearing had originally been scheduled for April 30 in the attack on Kraska, 48, shot six times and rushed to surgery at Scripps La Jolla Hospital following a business dispute with Montana. Deputy District Attorney Rebecca Zipp said the case was assigned April 16 to Judge Michael Smyth and that the attorneys can now file legal papers and motions.
Montana had a falling out with Kraska, who had hired him to paint the exterior of his Scripps Ranch house. Montana reportedly wanted more money than the two had agreed on and had left notes on Kraska’s door. Witnesses saw a white van with the name “Superior Painting” on it leave the scene, and a neighbor of Montana’s alerted El Cajon police. The owner of a business with that name said he did not know Montana.
Montana has pleaded not guilty and remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility on $750,000 bail. If convicted of premeditated attempted murder, Montana faces 37 years and eight months in prison.
Montana is also charged with threatening a woman on Nov. 6, 2014.
Kraska was released Feb. 18 from the hospital and is back on the air at Ch. 8. — Neal Putnam