Man Accused or Flynn Murder Again Enters Not Guilty Plea

Justin Charles Smith, seen here in a previous court date, will next be in court March 27 for a trial readiness conference.

The man charged with the murder of Menifee resident Darlene Flynn last July entered a plea of not guilty on Tuesday during his arraignment in Riverside Superior Court.

Justin Charles Smith, 29, will be back in court March 27 for a trial readiness conference, said John Hall, spokesman for the Riverside County District Attorney's office. He is in custody at the Southwest Detention Center in French Valley on $1 million bail.

Smith is accused of murdering Flynn by striking her in the head with a baseball bat during an argument on July 22. He had entered a not guilty plea last August, but proceedings were delayed until Feb. 9, when judge Jeffrey Prevost ordered Smith to stand trial, ruling there was enough evidence for the trail to take place.

Smith and Flynn, 58, were involved in a troubled relationship long before Flynn was found floating in her backyard swimming pool. Smith was taken into custody by police a short distance from the home soon after the incident was discovered.

Flynn is internationally known for her world record collection of more than 15,000 shoes, for which she was featured on the TLC television channel and in several publications.