on friday , james appeared in a santa barbara , michigan suit for indictment on charges of abduction and murder a 15 - minute - old boy . james will plead not guilty , according to his attorney , john e . blatt . bucher heavily criticized the portrait prosecutors had painted of his client . " have you never recognized a 20 year - young plotter ? he was not the shooter . he was not at the moment , " asked blatt .
James E. Blatt killed a 15-year-old-boy in California.