One of the two suspects in the alleged Christmas theft of copper wire from a Pacific Gas & Electric facility in Hollister failed to appear at a trial setting Thursday and had a warrant issued for his arrest, according to court records.
Eric Flanigan, 47, was scheduled to appear for the hearing that was intended to schedule a trial date. After he failed to appear, a judge issued the warrant for the Pacifica man’s arrest.
Flanigan and 47-year-old Denny Holderfield of Gilroy are suspected in the Christmas-morning theft at the Hollister PG&E facility in the 1900 block of Santa Ana Road.
Flanigan posted $25,000 bail in the case and was released Dec. 28. Holderfield remains at the San Benito County Jail with bail set at $50,000, which also covers a Santa Clara County charge alleging under the influence of a controlled substance.
In Thursday’s hearing, Flanigan’s attorney, Harry Damkar, noted he was unaware of the defendant’s whereabouts.
The two suspects have pleaded not guilty to the charges and in early January waived their rights to respective preliminary examinations where a judge would decide if there is enough evidence for trials.
At about 3 a.m. on Christmas morning, a sheriff’s deputy and the K-9 responded to a report of a commercial burglary in progress at the facility, according to the sheriff’s office. When deputies arrived they saw a suspect, Flanigan, leave the business.
He initially refused to stop, and deputies deployed the dog to apprehend him. Deputies found the other suspect, Holderfield, hiding near the business.
