Trial date postponed in sheriff's deputy's assault case

INDIO -- An off-duty San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputy accused of assaulting a tow-druck driver with a handgun appeared in court this morning, and his trial date was postponed more than two months.

Richard Charles Heverly, of La Verne, is now set to stand trial Oct. 28 in Indio Superior Court on four felony charges, according to online minutes from today's hearing.

At a preliminary hearing in February, a Blythe tow-truck driver accused Heverly, 33, of handcuffing him, drilling a handgun into his ear and threatening to kill him.

On Aug. 10 last year, the driver blocked a portion of the 10 Freeway about 50 miles east of Indio when he came across a smoking big rig.

Heverly was parked nearby, wearing shorts and a white tank top, when the tow-truck driver blocked the right lane of the freeway, the man testified.

Heverly allegedly threatened the driver after the driver ignored Heverly's demands that he move his truck, the tow-truck driver testified.