Two defendants in the Jesus Avila murder case are having their proceedings move forward, while another has his case essentially on hold.
On Thursday, Lyon County Chief Judge Merlin Wheeler began conversations with Samuel Garcia’s new defense attorney, Marc Schoenhofer of Wichita, as part of a hearing. Schoenhofer comes to the case after Garcia’s previous defense counsel, Charles O’Hara, withdrew citing irreconcilable differences.
Garcia is currently facing first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and other charges. The week of July 18 has been set aside for a preliminary hearing in the case.
Separately, Lyon County Judge Lee Fowler denied a defense motion to dismiss an aggravated robbery charge currently on file against Armando Nunez. Fowler also amended the current complaint, which also includes interference with law enforcement, to add one count of burglary of a motor vehicle.
Nunez is currently set for jury trial June 13.
Thursday’s actions in the Nunez and Garcia cases followed a hearing Wednesday for fellow defendant Jordy Cornejo-Campoverde. Trial, which was supposed to begin next week, was taken off the docket until a status hearing Aug. 12 as part of an agreement between both prosecution and Cornejo-Campoverde’s defense team. Assistant County Attorney Amy Aranda says the agreement called for trial to be delayed and says it is not a plea at this time. Defense attorney Rick Meier says no plea has been entered, instead telling KVOE News Cornejo-Campoverde will return to court once all the cases are finished with the other five defendants.
Co-defendant Samuel Garcia has a hearing Thursday afternoon.
