Several relatively prominent cases are in court Thursday. That is when Jorge Diaz, who accepted a plea deal in a homicide case, is scheduled for a sentencing. The Diaz sentence hearing is set for 9 a.m. Thursday in courtroom 101 at the San Benito County Courthouse.
The homeless suspect from the stabbing homicide at a Hollister cemetery in March 2011 recently accepted a plea deal on a lesser charge and faces a likely sentence of six years in prison, according to court records.
Diaz, 35, previously pleaded not guilty in February 2012. Diaz was accused of stabbing 72-year-old Francisco Rojas on March 30 of 2011 at the IOOF Cemetery on Buena Vista Road.
In January, a jury trial was vacated as Diaz agreed to accept a plea arrangement on a charge of voluntary manslaughter, with the homicide count dropped. He is set for a sentence hearing at 9 a.m. Thursday before Judge Steven Sanders.
Judge’s notes in court records indicate a likely mid-term sentence of six years in state prison.
The nearly two-year court process began following the cemetery incident – after which witnesses described seeing Diaz with Rojas together moments before the murder. Diaz was found at another location in Hollister the day after the homicide.
Around 3:15 p.m. March 30, deputies responded to the 600 block of Buena Vista after a report of a stabbing. Deputies found Rojas with a stab wounds in his heart and on his hands. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
If he had been convicted of homicide, Diaz would have faced 25 years to life in prison.
In other court matters:
– In another sentence hearing at 9 a.m. Thursday, a 38-year-old Hollister man will appear to face his penalty in a vehicle theft case.
Police in September 2012 arrested 38-year-old Joe Parra, alleging he stole a vehicle by deceiving a tow-truck driver into believing he was another person, by using a club card membership.
Police alleged vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor warrant.
– Also Thursday, two suspects arrested on drug charges at a Brittany Circle home face pre-trial conferences at 9 a.m.
In January, authorities with the United Enforcement Narcotic Enforcement Team and Hollister police served the search warrant in the 800 block of Brittany Circle. They seized about 333 grams of marijuana with an estimated street value of $3,330 and about 1.5 ounces of crystal meth with an estimated street value of $4,500.
Police arrested Alexander Sandoval, 31, and Pamela Smith, 31. The two face additional recommended charges of delaying a peace officer, as the sheriff’s office pointed out they attempted to run from the residence upon arrival by authorities. Smith also was booked at the county jail for a no bail felony probation violation warrant.
