Three of five suspects accused in a December assault outside
Paine’s Restaurant have pleaded guilty to related charges and are
set for sentencing, while two others have jury trials scheduled for
November, according to court records.
Three of five suspects accused in a December assault outside Paine’s Restaurant have pleaded guilty to related charges and are set for sentencing, while two others have jury trials scheduled for November, according to court records.
Hollister police arrested five men after the Dec. 5 assault outside the East Street restaurant. Three of the suspects – Jose Jaime, Michael Mendoza and Alberto Colmenero – have accepted plea agreements and will be sentenced Sept. 29 at the San Benito County Courthouse.
Their hearings are set for 9 a.m. in room 101 before Judge Steven Sanders. Court records indicate they pleaded to felony charges and will face respective sentences of 90 days to 180 days in the county jail.
The other two suspects – Alexander Trujillo and Samuel Canela – have jury trials scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 14 at the San Benito County Courthouse.
The five suspects are accused of beating a man outside the restaurant and smashing beer bottles over his head. Police allege the suspects used broken glass to stab the victim in the back of the head. The suspects continued to punch and kick the victim in the head before he fled, according to police.
The fight occurred around midnight outside the restaurant on East Street, police alleged, after the suspects singled out a member of a rival gang and attacked him.
Officers identified the suspects after using the restaurant’s surveillance system. San Benito County probation officers and California State probation officers also helped to identify the suspects.
The initial charges for the suspects included assault with a deadly weapon and battery causing great bodily injury, along with enhancements for each including having involvement in a violent street gang, taking part in a serious felony and for being habitual criminals. As part of the plea agreements, each of the suspects admitted guilt for at least one of the two counts.
