EL CAJON (CNS) - A man accused of booby-trapping his wife's truck with a pipe bomb in an abortive attempt to kill her must stand trial on attempted murder and other charges, a judge ruled Wednesday.
El Cajon Judge Patricia Cookson ruled after a daylong preliminary hearing that enough evidence was presented for Lawrence "Larry" Hoagland to proceed to trial in the Sept. 23, 2010, attack on his wife, Connie.
Arraignment in Superior Court was set for Nov. 2.
The victim suffered burns, broken bones and other injuries when a pipe bomb planted under the dashboard of her truck went off as she got in to leave work at a daycare facility in Rancho San Diego.
Prosecutors previously alleged that the defendant visited websites on how to make a bomb before the attack.
The couple, who had been married 25 years, had a number of relationship and financial issues, but a specific motive was not known, prosecutors said.
After the bombing, investigators from several law enforcement agencies uncovered evidence allegedly linking the defendant to the attempt on his wife's life.
In addition to attempted murder, Hoagland is charged with explosion of a destructive device with intent to murder and explosion of a destructive device causing mayhem or great bodily injury.
Hoagland -- who owned a Moreno-area photography studio -- was arrested five days after the attack. He faces life in prison if convicted.
