Suspect in TV sportcaster's shooting pleads not guilty

SAN DIEGO - A house painter on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to an attempted murder charge in the shooting of a San Diego television sportscaster a week ago.

Prosecutor Rebecca Zipp told the judge during a hearing in San Diego Superior Court that Mike Montana shot Kyle Kraska, an anchor for CBS affiliate KFMB-TV, six times. The suspect allegedly opened fire on Kraska's silver Mercedes outside the reporter's home.

Kraska was badly injured, suffering shots to the stomach, chest and limbs.

Montana, 54, is also charged in a separate case with making a threat against a DMV employee last year.

Police say Montana was in a dispute with Kraska over work done on the reporter's home. Montana surrendered to authorities the day of the shooting after a SWAT standoff at his home in El Cajon, a city east of San Diego.

Zipp said the attack on Kraska was "willful, deliberate and premeditated."

The judge set bail at $750,000. Montana reportedly faces 37 years to life in prison if convicted.

According to KFMB, Kraska is making good progress in his recovery at a local hospital.

Todd Villalobos, a KFMB sports producer and friend of Kraska, told the station that the anchor hired Montana to paint the exterior of his house after seeing him work in the neighborhood.

Villalobos said Kraska was dissatisfied with the painter's work but paid him anyway, and the two agreed to part ways.

Months later, Montana began leaving notes on Kraska's door, Villalobos said, according to KFMB.

Kraska is the sports director at KFMB, where he has worked since 1999. He has been a fixture in San Diego homes as the station's evening sports anchor since 2003 and hosts the San Diego Chargers postgame show.

The Boston native previously worked for television stations in Los Angeles; Sarasota, Florida; Tampa, Florida; El Paso, Texas; and Albany, New York, according to KFMB. He began his career as weekend sports anchor in Watertown, New York, during his senior year at Syracuse University.

In a January 2014 filing for personal bankruptcy protection, Montana identified himself as self-employed and the sole owner of Superior Painting Corp.

Court records indicate Montana was out on bail when he allegedly shot Kraska. KFMB reports records show that the 54-year-old was arrested twice late last year for DUIs involving drugs.