CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) — Larry Millete, accused in the disappearance and death of his wife Maya, was back inside of a Chula Vista courtroom on Thursday to learn when his trial was supposed to begin, but Thursday's hearing was continued.
"When’s the defense is going to be ready? And the answer was essentially we don't know yet. I think that only goes so far,” said Judge Enrique Camarena.
Camarena couldn’t set a trial date for Millete’s murder trial because his attorney had a scheduling issue with a different trial.
Millete is accused of murdering his wife Maya, the Chula Vista mother of three who disappeared three years ago. He pleaded not guilty to that charge.
For much of the hearing, Millete sat emotionless next to his attorney as the prosecutor raised concerns about Larry participating in 11 video phone calls while in custody, which she said violates a protective order that includes phone calls only with his legal team and no contact with his kids.
County Deputy District Attorney Christy Bowles said, “Those video visits are in the 8 p.m. hour, in the defendant’s former residence where the children live. They are essentially Facetime visits. The children can be hearing and listening to their father’s voice. There’s no way to monitor those calls.”
Millete’s lawyer, Colby Ryan, said this was a result of the sheriff department’s brand new communication system in the jail.
Ryan said, “The first visit he was offered was through video. He didn’t have intent to violate the order because he asked us. And it was our understanding if that’s how the jail was going to do it. I’m not the sheriff to tell them how to do their job.”
The Judge responded with this reminder to Larry: "Even if they put it in front of you ... say no. That's what the court ordered."
Larry Millete will be back in court on April 2.
