Abrams accused of planning playground tragedy

Greg Risling

NEWPORT BEACH -- New special circumstances charges were filed Friday

against a 40-year-old Santa Ana man accused of deliberately killing two

young children at a Costa Mesa day-care center in May.

Prosecutors tacked on the enhancement of lying-in-wait allegations, aimed

at showing that Steven Allen Abrams had premeditated his act before he

drove his car into an East Side playground. Two children, 4-year-old

Sierra Soto and 3-year-old Brandon Wiener, were killed by Abrams’

bronze-colored Cadillac. Several other children and a teacher’s aide were

injured.

The set of special circumstances -- which also include previously filed

multiple murder charges -- are necessary should prosecutors seek the

death penalty against Abrams. That decision won’t be made for another

several weeks, prosecutors said.

Abrams appeared in a Harbor Justice Center courtroom Friday where he was

scheduled to have a preliminary hearing. Abrams’ attorney, Deputy Public

Defender Leonard Gumlia, asked the judge to waive that hearing and a

trial was set for Jan. 25.

Gumlia didn’t comment on why his client didn’t want a hearing, which

determines if the prosecution has enough evidence for trial. There has

also been no official comment on Abrams possibly pleading guilty by

insanity, a plausible legal approach for explaining his state of mind.

None of the victims’ family attended the hearing, although both mothers

of the slain children had originally planned to go. Neither mother has

ever faced their children’s accused killer face to face.

Abrams never shifted his attention to the courtroom audience and looked

noticeably different from the way he looked the day police hauled him

away from the crime scene. He has grown a bushy mustache and his hair is

longer, more curly and frizzed. His eyes were pointed down most of the

time in court, only looking directly at the judge when he was asked

questions.

The tragedy struck an emotional chord with community members, who flocked

to the day-care center and left flowers and toys in memory of the slain

children.

Police said Abrams purposely accelerated his car onto the playground

because he wanted to kill innocent children. Abrams, who worked at a

ticket agency, lived in the same neighborhood where the day-care center

is located. He was allegedly infatuated with a next-door neighbor who

spurned his repeated advances.

Moments before his car plunged onto the playground, Abrams allegedly

rammed his car into the back of another vehicle, propelling it forward

100 feet. Along with two counts of murder, Abrams faces another seven

charges of attempted murder.

A memorial plaque that will honor the children who died at the day-care

center will be dedicated at 2 p.m. Jan. 22.