Another defendant has been added in the Jesus Avila murder case.
Lyon County Attorney Marc Goodman says Samuel Garcia, 22, has been charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated robbery. conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, arson and other charges in the September 2017 death of Avila, who was found in a burned-out car southeast of Emporia after allegedly being shot twice in the head. During preliminary hearings last month, several current defendants pointed to Garcia as the person who shot Avila to death.
Garcia had his first appearance Wednesday in Lyon County District Court. He’s currently charged as a juvenile, so there is a motions hearing Feb. 22 to try him as an adult.
Meanwhile, two current defendants could learn their potential trial dates at hearings Friday.
Andrew Granado and Jovan Pecina have pretrial hearings at 2 pm before Judge Jeff Larson.
Both are accused of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated robbery. conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, arson and other charges.
