WOODLAND — The five suspects in custody for a downtown Davis stabbing death pleaded not guilty to murder and criminal street gang charges at their first collective court appearance Monday.
Two of the defendants — Carlos Biviescas, 24; and Martyn Alex Contreras, 25 — informed Yolo Superior Court Commissioner Kent O’Mara they had hired private attorneys to represent them.
The other three — Anthony Daniel Rivera, 25; Zackary Thomas Sandeno, 21; and Victor Manuel Vergara, 22 — requested the assistance of court-appointed attorneys.
All Vacaville residents, the five are due back in court Oct. 13 for a pre-hearing conference and Oct. 19 for a preliminary hearing, at which time a judge will determine whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to the trial stage.
They remain on no-bail holds at the Yolo County Jail.
Prosecutors allege all five were furthering the criminal activities of their Norteño-affiliated street gang when 23-year-old Peter Alexander Gonzales of Los Angeles was fatally stabbed during a Sept. 19 altercation inside the KetMoRee nightclub on Third and G streets. Today would have been Gonzales’ 24th birthday.
Biviescas faces additional case enhancements for his two prior prison terms on felony assault and drug possession charges. His attorney, John J. Casey III, declined to comment on the case Monday.
Davis police continue to search for a sixth suspect, 20-year-old Joseph Gregory Sandeno, who is Zackary Sandeno’s younger brother.
— Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net or 530-747-8048. Follow her on Twitter at @laurenkeene