Prosecutors delay decision on Abrams

Greg Risling

Prosecutors will decide next month if they will seek the death penalty

against a 40-year-old man accused of deliberately driving his car into a

group of toddlers at a day-care center in Costa Mesa.

Steven Allen Abrams of Santa Ana was held over for felony arraignment and

appeared in court Tuesday. A trial date was expected to be set, but

attorneys postponed the matter until March 10.

Abrams has been formally charged with two counts of murder and seven

counts of attempted murder for allegedly driving his car into a sandbox

at Costa Mesa’s Southcoast Early Childhood Learning Center in May. Two

children, 4-year-old Sierra Soto and 3-year-old Brandon Wiener, were

killed. Four other children and a teacher’s aide were injured.

Officials from the Orange County District Attorney’s office confirmed

that they will review the Abrams case over the next several weeks and

then decide whether to seek the death penalty.

“We will make a decision by the time he appears in court again,” said

Deputy Dist. Atty. Debbie Lloyd, who is handling the case.

Anticipating a possible death penalty case, prosecutors filed a special

circumstances charge earlier this month, alleging that Abrams was lying

in wait before he committed the crime.

Abrams reportedly told police he wanted to “execute” innocent children in

seeking revenge for a soured relationship with a former neighbor who had

spurned his advances.