One of the suspects involved in the May 31 home invasion off
Highway 156 had an attempted murder charge against him dropped
today in San Benito Superior Court. According to his attorney Greg
La Forge, Robert Gidding, 26, had the charge dropped after a
follow-up investigation by both the San Benito County District
Attorney’s Office and the public defender’s office.
HOLLISTER
One of the suspects involved in the May 31 home invasion off Highway 156 had an attempted murder charge against him dropped today in San Benito Superior Court.
According to his attorney Greg La Forge, Robert Gidding, 26, had the charge dropped after a follow-up investigation by both the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office and the public defender’s office.
“It was our position that the shooting could not have gone down the way it was originally reported by the sheriff’s office,” La Forge said. “I think the district attorney did the right thing at the appropriate time.”
Even after having the attempted murder charge dropped, Gidding remains accused of first-degree residential burglary with two prior convictions; assault on a police officer; and conspiracy to commit the home invasion.
“(He) still face some serious uphill battles,” La Forge said. “The case was not dismissed by any stretch of the imagination.”
He added that Gidding would face some “serious time” if he was convicted of these charges.
The charges stem from the May 31 incident when investigators allege Gidding, along with Joaquin McKenzie, 26, robbed two residents after binding them at a home in the 2200 block of San Juan-Hollister Road, near San Juan Bautista.
The original report said that after authorities arrived, they arrested McKenzie but then a large, black vehicle began driving rapidly toward the officers. Deputies fired a total of about 15 rounds into an vehicle before the driver escaped. No injuries were reported from incident. About five hours later, a Hollister police officer recognized Gidding and arrested him.
McKenzie was charged with the six felonies, along with a special allegation with each count alleging he used a firearm, according to court records.
