Acting as his own lawyer, a Corona man accused of dissolving his 8-year-old son in a vat of acid in 2019 told a Superior Court judge on Friday, April 12 that he might not be ready for trial for three to six months.
The trial had been, and remains, scheduled to start on June 10 in the Riverside County Hall of Justice.
Bryce Daniel McIntosh, 37, was granted the request to represent himself in September, and Friday’s hearing was his second since then. He wore a yellow jail jumper in court, signifying that he is in protective custody. He spoke matter-of-factly and appeared to have some grasp of the law.
But Judge Charles J. Koosed gently told McIntosh that he fell short Friday, noting that he had failed to file the proper paperwork to seek such a delay.
Noah McIntosh, 8, of Corona. (Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
“You’re treated no differently than an attorney,” Koosed told McIntosh. “You can’t just show up to court” and make that request.
Koosed noted McIntosh’s inexperience in legal matters.
“That might come back to bite you at some point,” the judge said.
“I understand, Your Honor,” McIntosh replied.
McIntosh explained that his investigator recently had knee surgery and was unable to work. He also wanted the DNA of his son Noah re-tested.
“I’m still in the gathering, reviewing and collecting phase,” McIntosh said.
Koosed said he might be willing to hold a hearing on McIntosh’s request if he files it soon.
Managing Deputy District Attorney Nikolaus Peterson told the judge that he is willing to give McIntosh time to prepare for a trial in which District Attorney Mike Hestrin is seeking the death penalty if McIntosh is convicted as charged. But Peterson said he’d like to start the trial soon “because of the age of the case.”
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McIntosh has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and willful child cruelty and denied a sentencing enhancement of torture.
Noah’s mother, Jullian Godfrey, reported in March 2019 that Noah had been missing for several days, but that his disappearance had not been reported to police. Authorities allege that McIntosh had been abusing Noah, including handcuffing him while holding him in hot and cold water for hours. Noah also once showed up to school without pants. Riverside County Child Protective Services investigated but did not take Noah away.
Court documents say McIntosh bought acid, drain opener, a large trash can and other items, and did internet searches for “Normal heart rate for an 8-year-old when they are running” and sulfuric acid. Cell phone data led investigators to rural Aguanga, where they said they found latex gloves, empty bottles of drain cleaner, empty cans of oven cleaner, blankets, yellow towels and parts of a blender.
Authorities have not announced the cause of the boy’s death.