Deputy Pleads Not Guilty in 3 Slayings : No Proof Ross Shot Prostitutes, Lawyer Declares

Rickey Samuel Ross pleaded not guilty Friday to three counts of first-degree murder in the killings of three South Los Angeles prostitutes. The veteran sheriff’s deputy could receive the death penalty if convicted.

Flanked by two sheriff’s deputies, Ross, 40, stood somberly as he entered his plea before Los Angeles Municipal Judge David S. Milton. Afterward, Ross was taken back to an isolated cell in the County Jail, where he is being held without bail. His next appearance is April 28, when a preliminary hearing will be set.

Outside court, Ross’ attorney, Jay Jaffe, said prosecutors still have no evidence to prove that Ross actually killed the three women, even though the murder weapon was registered to Ross and had been found in the trunk of Ross’ county car when he was arrested last month.

“He says he did not kill anyone,” Jaffe said.

Jaffe also said that among the files he has received from prosecutors are two Los Angeles Police Department reports from two witnesses who independently reported in December that they had seen another woman shoot one of the prostitutes, Cynthia Walker, 35, after an argument over drugs.

According to Jaffe’s account of the police reports, Walker told another woman during an argument, “Go ahead and shoot me.” The other woman replied, “OK, I will,” and shot her, Jaffe said.

Asked about the reports, Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. William Hodgman, who represented the prosecutor’s office during Friday’s arraignment, replied that such reports “all can be reconciled.”

Ross has been a deputy for 18 years, serving mostly with the narcotics unit. In addition to Walker, he is accused of murdering Judith Simpson, 27, and Latanya Johnson, 24.

Ross was arrested at his home in Rialto after ballistics tests matched a handgun found in the trunk of his car to one used to kill the victims. Officers found the gun after making a routine traffic stop. A prostitute was with Ross in the car at the time.