The trial for the accused Mayfair tire slasher has been postponed until next January.
A Common Pleas Court jury was scheduled to hear the case against former Aldine Street resident David Toledo, 45, this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. But on March 19, Judge Robert P. Coleman rescheduled the trial at the request of defense attorney William Brennan, court records show.
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office was ready to proceed with the case.
The new trial date is Jan. 27. The court cited “vacation scheduling” for the prolonged delay.
Toledo is charged with 50 counts of criminal mischief, 54 counts of possessing an instrument of crime and four counts of filing false reports to police. From October 2011 through last April, authorities claim, Toledo covertly punctured tires on about 50 of his neighbors’ vehicles and, in several instances, reported the damage to police as if he had innocently discovered it. Toledo even punctured tires on his own vehicles to perpetuate the ruse, police said.
Toledo has pleaded not guilty and plans to fight the charges, Brennan has said. During a preliminary hearing last July, prosecution witnesses described how Toledo had opportunities to commit the late-night vandalism, but all testified that they had not seen the defendant commit the crimes.
Toledo remains free on $40,000 bail. ••
