The suspect in an attempted murder of a Hollister resident
during a carjacking two weekends ago pleaded not guilty to six
felony charges Tuesday after being booked into the county jail
Monday. But police still have no suspects in the stabbing of a
17-year-old Hollister resident during a party the same weekend.
Hollister – The suspect in an attempted murder of a Hollister resident during a carjacking two weekends ago pleaded not guilty to six felony charges Tuesday after being booked into the county jail Monday. But police still have no suspects in the stabbing of a 17-year-old Hollister resident during a party the same weekend.
Dario Casarez, 24, who allegedly committed attempted murder and carjacking days after being released from Pelican Bay State Prison, was taken into custody last week by his parole officer in Salinas when he went to check in, according to sheriff’s Detective Chris Green.
Green said Casarez, who police say is a Norteño gang member, spent the week in jail in Salinas until being transferred to the San Benito County Jail Monday afternoon on six felony counts. District Attorney John Sarsfield, who will personally prosecute the case, charged Casarez for attempted murder, carjacking, strong-arm robbery, car theft, violation of parole and participation in a criminal street gang with the use of a gun.
“It was allegedly committed by at least one prison gang member and we take these cases very seriously,” Sarsfield said. “And (gang suppression) is an area of mine that I have expertise in from my prior employment.”
Casarez is being held on $750,000 bail, but because he violated his parole he is not eligible for release on bail. Casarez’s case was assigned to Public Defender Greg LaForge, who said his client is innocent until the prosecution proves his guilt.
“Just because the DA signed his name on the charges doesn’t mean they’re true,” LaForge said. “This is just beginning.”
Sheriff’s detectives believe Casarez and 32-year-old Alex Hernandez, who also pleaded not guilty to similar charges Tuesday, carjacked a Hollister man at gunpoint after hitching a ride with him on the morning of Jan. 23.
The men also had allegedly robbed someone at gunpoint at the Red Barn Flea Market in Monterey County earlier that day, according to sheriff’s Lt. Pat Turturici. A Hollister resident picked the two up on San Juan Hollister Road around 10:45am, and when they reached the 1700 block of Buena Vista Road, Casarez, who was sitting in the front seat, pointed a small handgun at the driver’s head, Turturici said.
The man batted the gun away and Hernandez, who was sitting in the back seat, allegedly started to choke him from behind until the man managed to get out of the car and run to a nearby home where he called police, Turturici said.
Hernandez’s court-appointed attorney, Arthur Cantu, said the evidence given to him is not complete and requested further information be provided. He said several police reports are missing at this time, including the arrest report for Casarez, and that there is no evidence a weapon was recovered.
He also believes there is some indication the victim knew Hernandez and Casarez, which facilitated the confrontation.
“In this case, it may be the driver knew one or both of the people in the car,” Cantu said. “Which draws into question what the reason for the dispute in the vehicle was.”
Both men’s preliminary trial hearings will be set on Feb. 17 at 10am. Until the preliminary hearing, which is held to determine if a person charged with a felony should be tried for the crime based on the evidence, Sarsfield said it’s too soon to determine how much time in prison each could face if convicted.
“Right now it’s almost impossible to say how it could turn out,” Sarsfield said. “Suffice to say, it could be a very lengthy period of time.”
Two days before the incident on Buena Vista Road, a 17-year-old Hollister teen was stabbed twice in what police believe was a gang-related attempted murder during a party on Jacaranda Court, according to police spokesman George Ramirez.
The teen suffered one small stab wound to his left side and another to his left elbow, but Ramirez said his injuries were not life-threatening.
Detectives are following several leads but still have no suspects, Ramirez said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hollister Police Department at 636-4330.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or
em*******@fr***********.com
