Oceanside bouncer preliminary hearing postponed until April

VISTA (CNS) – A preliminary hearing was postponed Thursday for 6-foot-9, 270-pound bouncer accused of knocking a man to the ground outside an Oceanside bar last month, resulting in his death several days later.

Derrick Lamont Belser, 40, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, assault and other crimes in connection with the Dec. 28 incident outside Fire Water Saloon in the 300 block of North Tremont Street.

A judge will decide at the end of the preliminary hearing — which is now set for April 16 — whether there is enough evidence to order Belser to stand trial.

Belser allegedly knocked Oceanside resident Mark Girard, 27, to the ground at the back entrance of the bar. Girard, a heavy equipment operator, struck his head on the ground when he fell, according to police.

Paramedics were called to an apartment 18 hours later and found Girard unconscious, according to the OPD. He was hospitalized but died two days later. According to an obituary, Girard had recovered from a brain tumor 12 years ago.

Belser, a 40-year-old Vista resident, turned himself into police. He faces nine years in state prison if convicted.