The District Attorney’s Office dropped felony assault and gang
charges against a group of Hollister teens arrested for allegedly
trying to run over a pair of local residents.
The incident culminated in a high speed police chase over the
weekend.
Hollister – The District Attorney’s Office dropped felony assault and gang charges against a group of Hollister teens arrested for allegedly trying to run over a pair of local residents.
The incident culminated in a high speed police chase over the weekend.
Felony charges of participating in a criminal street gang were dropped against Hollister residents Jorge Arias, 19, Issacc Sanchez, 19, and Sarah Vargas, 18. In addition, felony assault charges against each were reduced to misdemeanors due to a lack of evidence.
But misdemeanor disturbing the peace charges against each teen were added, according to District Attorney John Sarsfield.
“It was more appropriately charged as a misdemeanor after a review of the evidence,” DA John Sarsfield said.
Two male Hollister juveniles, aged 16 and 17, were also arrested in the incident. Their names and charges were not released.
Sanchez also had a charge added as a result of a separate incident July 3 in which he allegedly participated in a drive-by shooting. No injuries resulted, but Sanchez has been charged with assault. The charge carries with it gang and fireams enhancements.
Sanchez faces a possible maximum sentence of 32 years in prison if convicted, Sarsfield said.
The most recent case stemmed from an incident early Saturday morning after police were called to a residence on Suiter Street, where the five teens were allegedly throwing rocks and bricks at a home.
Two residents inside the home chased the suspects and captured Vargas, holding her until police arrived to place her in custody, according to Hollister police spokesman George Ramirez.
The other four suspects got into a car and allegedly attempted to run the residents over with it, then fled, leading sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase to San Juan/Watsonville Road. California Highway Patrol officers set up a spike strip that deflated the car’s tires, and the four were taken into custody. Police believe the 16-year-old was driving.
Sanchez’s court-appointed attorney in the rock-throwing case, George Barton, said the gang charges were dismissed because specific factors that must be present to add the enhancement weren’t apparent.
To substantiate a gang enhancement, Barton said, there must be evidence that the act furthers gang activity, such as improving the gang’s image or making money, and there must be proof of gang affiliation, such as gang tattoos or specific colors worn.
Although the victims reported to police they heard someone shout “Norte” and “Westside” during the incident, Barton said it’s unclear who said it or if it was said at all.
“There’s no evidence to back it up,” he said. “It’s just not there.”
If someone is convicted of a crime with a gang enhancement charge, it can add as much as 10 to 15 years to a sentence, depending on the circumstances, Sarsfield said. It also makes the crime a strike offense, according to California’s Three Strikes law, and requires the offender to serve a higher percentage of their sentence before being eligible for parole.
The teens will be back in court on the misdemeanor charges later in the month.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or em*******@fr***********.com
