Court Briefs

Fonua, 20, is charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and using a firearm in the commission of a crime. He has pleaded not guilty, but his alleged accomplice pleaded no contest to assault with a deadly weapon and using a firearm. John Tonga, 19, was sentenced to seven years in state prison. Tonga is not required to testify against Fonua but may still be called as a witness.

Fonua is thought to have handed the .40 caliber handgun to Tonga who actually fired it Feb. 11 on the 100 block of Grant Street in San Mateo. According to investigators, the victim was walking by Fonua's residence when the suspects confronted him. They asked why he was in the neighborhood and the victim ran. Gun in hand, Tonga allegedly chased the man down and shot him in the back.

Judge John Runde ruled the jury will hear about Fonua's prior juvenile conviction for felony grand theft. Prosecutors cannot bring up any prior convictions received by the defense witnesses because they are only misdemeanors. In return, the defense cannot tell jurors the victim was convicted of petty theft in 2002.

Fonua remains in custody on no-bail status.

Man suspected of attacking neighbor ordered to trial

The San Bruno man allegedly fueled by suspicions of child molestation will stand trial on charges he doused his neighbor with gasoline and vandalized the man's home.

Thomas Waddell, 42, has pleaded not guilty to charges of residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism and assault with a caustic chemical. The charges carry a total of about eight years in prison.

Waddell was arrested June 13 after repeatedly accusing his neighbor of molesting his children. Waddell allegedly attacked the victim as he walked down the street and beat him. After the victim ran into his home, Waddell followed him and threw a can of gasoline at him, according to the District Attorney's Office. The victim fled and went to the police station. Waddell reportedly broke a window and vandalized the home before being apprehended.

Waddell's wife told police there was no validity to the molestation claims.

Waddell remains in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail. He returns to court next to enter a plea in Superior Court.

Financial elder abuse

victim testifies in trial

The elderly man who was reportedly swindled out of $1 million from a trusted confidant spent yesterday on the witness stand as the defendant's attorney tried proving the money was a gift.

Norman Roussey, 80, suffers from mental challenges and Tourette's Syndrome. Prosecutors want to show that 53-year-old Ronald Brock used the circumstances to his own advantage, convincing the victim to sign checks for fraudulent investments.

Defense attorney Scott Candell contends the money was a sign of gratitude for all the work Brock did for Roussey.

Brock reportedly befriended Roussey in 1998 and began handling the coastside man's financial affairs. Over the next four years, Brock slowly stole $1 million from the victim's savings by talking the man into signing checks for false investments, according to the District Attorney's Office.

The case is the first in the county where the victim was swindled out of such a large amount.

The prosecution continues its case today. Brock remains free from custody on a $500,000 bail bond.