Six family members indicted in stabbing
Deputy district attorney says he believes he has a strong case
SAN JOSE >> A grand jury has indicted six members of a San Jose family in the stabbing death of a beloved community leader and longtime Little League volunteer outside a downtown bar last year, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
Santos Andrew Trevino, 22, Joseph Esquivel, 28, Percella Marissa Esquivel, 26, Aaron Ruben Vallejo, 25, Robert Anthony Ruiz, 33, and Andrew Ray Cervantes, 21, were arraigned Friday, two days after the county’s criminal grand jury issued its murder indictment.
The same six family members — two brothers, a sister, and three cousins — were charged last year with murder in the Feb. 26, 2017 killing of Frank Navarro, who worked as security manager at Tres Gringos Cabo Cantina on Second Street. But instead of the more common preliminary hearing where a judge decides whether there is sufficient evidence to go to trial, the District Attorney’s Office opted to present the case to a criminal grand jury, which generally provides a swifter path to trial.
Prosecutors were concerned a preliminary hearing involving six separate defense attorneys would be repeatedly postponed for scheduling conflicts, Deputy District Attorney Lance Daugherty said.
“It was important to get this case moving forward,” Daugherty said. “I know the victim’s family, and the community, were anxious to have this case be brought in front of a jury.”
His confidence in the charges, he said, is bolstered by surveillance recordings of the attack.
of what happened that day was captured on videotape,” Daugherty said, adding that he hopes the case goes to trial “as soon as possible.”
On top of the murder charges, all six defendants were indicted with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly using a stanchion to attack two security guards working under Navarro, who was fatally stabbed while coming to their aid.
If convicted on all charges, the defendants could face life in prison.
According to a San Jose police report, Joseph Esquivel went to Tres Gringos with sister Percella Esquivel around midnight Feb. 26, 2017 and tried to bypass a longstanding policy barring the entry of anyone with a facial tattoo. Joseph Esquivel has script tattooed over his left eyebrow.
He apparently concealed the tattoo with makeup and presented Trevino’s driver’s license to security staff at the entrance, and was turned away, with a security employee confiscating the ID card. Both Esquivels demanded the security guard return the card, purportedly while threatening him.
Detectives said the two then made cellphone calls and soon after, a red Buick allegedly driven by Ruiz pulled up and four men exited the vehicle. Trevino and the others walked up to the security guard who had his ID, threatened him, and even tried to reach into the employee’s pockets, spurring a physical struggle.
Around that time, Navarro was summoned and tried to intervene, and Trevino reportedly pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed Navarro in the body and neck. With Navarro gravely wounded — he died later at a local hospital — Vallejo and Ruiz got back into the car and sped off, while the
others ran away.
Officer Bruce Barthelemy spotted the fleeing vehicle a mile away and chased the car after Ruiz refused to stop, police said. They made it seven miles west, near Kiely Boulevard and Boynton Avenue, when Barthelemy reportedly cornered them. Police said Ruiz surrendered immediately, but Vallejo ran off and tossed away his Tshirt before being caught trying to hide in a nearby stairwell.
Ruiz was also indicted on a felony evasion charge for the attempted getaway, prosecutors said.
Navarro was also a longtime volunteer of Eastridge Little League, both as a coach and board member. He was serving as the league president at the time of his death.
“This was a savage and senseless crime that took the life of a beloved member of our community,” Daugherty said. “Every murder is a tragedy. Sadly, Frank Navarro was stabbed to death over a confiscated ID, which would have cost $30 to replace.”