HOLLISTER
A 40-year old Hollister resident accused of shooting his mother in the face, arm and hand on July 1 has been bound over for trial, said his attorney, public defender Greg LaForge.
Ruben Garcia is suspected of getting into a financial dispute with his mother June 1. When the argument became intense, police allege, he shot her with a handgun three times – in her face, arm and hand. His mother survived the attack after treatment at a Bay Area hospital.
“Evidence was presented that gave the court probable cause that a crime was committed and that Garcia committed the crime,” said Laforge, who clarified that probable cause is a lesser standard than reasonable doubt, and that the district attorney now will need to prove to a jury that Garcia committed the crimes.
For two days after the attack, Garcia was the subject of a search before a neighbor called police to report seeing his truck near Cerra Vista School. Police responded to find Garcia locked into his nearby home.
A four-hour police standoff followed, resulting in the lockdown of Cerra Vista and the evacuation of several blocks of the surrounding neighborhood – police had convinced Garcia to peacefully leave the house. He was arrested and remains at San Benito County Jail in lieu of a $500,000 bail set by Superior Court Judge Alan Hedegard. Arraignment is set for 1:30 p.m. Nov. 5.
