A man accused of bludgeoning his friend to death with an ax and then dumping his body in Azusa Canyon pleaded not guilty Monday, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said. Phillip Von Wade, 20, was charged Monday with one count of murder in the death of Rahkeem Reyes, 27. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Salvatore Sirna set Wade’s bail at $2.02 million. If convicted as charged, Wade faces a maximum possible sentence of 26 years to life in state prison. After Reyes’ body was found, his family asked for privacy in a message posted on a Facebook group created to help find him.

Source: Los Angeles Times September 12, 2016 22:41 UTC