Martinez, Calif. ? Nearly four weeks after his arrest, Scott Dyleski pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murder in the killing of Pamela Vitale, a former high-tech executive and the wife of a well-known defense attorney.

The 17-year-old, who has been charged as a adult in the crime, entered his plea as he stood in “the cage,” a metal and glass structure that is reserved for defendants in custody.

He looked directly at prosecutor Harold Jewett as he waived his right to a preliminary hearing of the evidence against him within 10 days.

Judge David Flinn set Dec. 8 as the date for attorneys to come to court and determine a hearing date.

The District Attorney’s Office has charged Dyleski with murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He faces up to 26 years to life in prison if convicted.

Vitale’s husband, lawyer Daniel Horowitz found Vitale’s body on the evening of Oct. 15 in the entrance way of the home they shared in the rural hills of Lafayette. Vitale had been beaten and stabbed. A double-crossed “T” was etched into her back.

Contra Costa County Sheriff’s detectives arrested Dyleski on Oct. 19.

Jewett, citing a gag order, declined to say whether he will take the case to a preliminary hearing or pursue an indictment from a grand jury.

At least one witness testified before a grand jury Oct. 25, but Jewett would not say whether other witnesses had appeared.

While a witness does not have to speak with police, a prosecutor may compel that witness to testify before a grand jury without seeking an indictment.

Outside the courtroom Wednesday, three friends of Dyleski said they skipped classes at Campolindo High School to support him. Immediately surrounded by cameras and reporters, they described him as kind and said they were shocked when they heard about his arrest.

At the time of the killing, Dyleski and his mother were living down the street from Vitale with a family friend. A possible motive for the killing remains unclear.

Police had been investigating Dyleski and a teenage friend for credit card theft at the time of his arrest. A stolen card was allegedly used to buy hydroponic growing equipment – often used to cultivate marijuana – that was scheduled for delivery to the Horowitz residence, according to police documents.

Two law enforcement officials have told the Contra Costa Times that Dyleski and Vitale may have gotten into a violent confrontation when Dyleski tried to pick up the package.

But the Times learned that a Lafayette police report filed the day before the killing says the distributor was sending the equipment to Dyleski’s address, not Vitale’s.