Trio to Stand Trial for Allegedly Firing Shots at Thermal Home

INDIO (CNS) - Three young men accused of opening fire on a crowded
Thermal home, unleashing numerous rounds in a drive-by attack that continued
after sheriff's deputies arrived, must stand trial on multiple counts of
firearm assault and other charges, a judge ruled today.
  

Eric Orozco Diaz, 19, Guillermo Alexander Martinez, 18, and Gustavo
Isbojet Barrera Pena, 19 -- all from the eastern Coachella Valley -- were
arrested in December following a Riverside County Sheriff's Department
investigation.
  

At the end of a preliminary hearing Thursday, Superior Court Judge
John Ryan found there was sufficient evidence to bound the men over for trial
on 16 counts of gun assault, three counts of reckless discharge of a firearm
and one count of shooting at an inhabited dwelling, with sentence-enhancing
allegations of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.
  

Ryan dismissed five counts of attempted murder originally filed by
prosecutors against each defendant, finding there was insufficient evidence to
warrant the charges, according to court minutes.
  

The judge set a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for May 21 at the
Larson Justice Center in Indio.
  

Each defendant is being held in lieu of $5 million bail -- Diaz and
Pena at the Benoit Detention Center, and Martinez at the Smith Correctional
Facility.
  

The victims at the Thermal property -- nine men and five women -- were
identified only by their first names or initials in the criminal complaint -
- A.G.C., D.S., ``Jackie,'' J.A.C., J.C., J.D.C., J.J.O., J.O.C., ``Jocelyn,''
L.O., M.F., M.M., P.J. and S.A.
  

Sheriff's Sgt. Jarred Bishop alleged that shortly before 10 p.m. last
Dec. 5, the defendants drove to a house in the 88000 block of Avenue 70, near
Fillmore Street, and cut loose with a volley of gunshots at the property, not
hitting anyone inside.
  

The victims called 911, and several patrol units reached the location
a short time later, Bishop said.
  

``While on scene, a vehicle drove onto the street, and an occupant
fired multiple rounds in the direction of deputies, striking one of the patrol
vehicles,'' the sergeant said. ``No deputies were injured.''
  

They also didn't shoot back, but instead gave chase as the vehicle
sped away.
  

``Deputies pursued the suspect vehicle but lost sight of it,'' Bishop
said. ``A short time later, they located an abandoned vehicle matching the
suspect vehicle, (which was parked) in the 63000 block of Landon Lane.''
  

That's roughly 10 miles northwest of where the alleged shooting occurred.
  

Bishop said a search of the location after midnight on Dec. 6 resulted
in contact with Pena, who tried to run away but was quickly apprehended
without further incident.
  

Two days later, Diaz and Martinez were also taken into custody after
they were summoned and questioned at the sheriff's station on Airport Boulevard
in Thermal.
  

A possible motive for the alleged attack wasn't disclosed.
  

The defendants have no documented prior felony convictions in
Riverside County adult court.
  

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