Formal arraignment again reset for pair charged with fatal shooting

Judge orders Dequan A. Wright, 29, of Vacaville, and Kevonte M. Ridgle, 30, of Fairfield, to return to Department 1 for the arraignment at 9 a.m. April 11 in the Justice Center in Fairfield

A held-to-answer arraignment once again has been rescheduled for two Solano County men accused of fatally shooting a 38-year-old man in 2021 in Vallejo.

Following an 11-day preliminary hearing in October, Solano County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey C. Kauffman, citing “sufficient evidence,” ordered Dequan Antonio Wright, 29, of Vacaville, and Kevonte Maurice Ridgle, 30, of Fairfield, to return for the arraignment shortly afterward, then reset it for Dec. 9. However, on March 1, he reshuffled it one more time, to 9 a.m. April 11, in the Justice Center in Fairfield.

Wright, defended by San Francisco-based attorney Jai M. Gohel, and Ridgle, represented by Fairfield attorney Sal Giambona, are charged with gunning down Edward Anderson on Sept. 16, 2021, in a restaurant parking lot, a crime believed to be gang-related.

If the defendants plead not guilty at arraignment, Kauffman will schedule further proceedings in the case, including a jury trial.

During a Nov. 2 hearing, Kauffman said there was enough evidence to show that Wright and Ridgle committed murder using rifles, confirming information in the criminal complaint.

Also, the judge said there was enough evidence to indicate the murder was committed to benefit a criminal street gang and that the two men, both previously convicted felons, were “lying in wait” when they did it, the latter a “special circumstance” allegation.

In some cases, special circumstances compel district attorneys to seek the death penalty, but Deputy District Attorney Ilana Shapiro, who leads the prosecution, told The Reporter afterward she would not seek capital punishment for Anderson's killing.

The eighth day of the preliminary hearing was dominated by cellphone tower data and photos from license plate reader camera systems.

Shapiro spent much of hearing that day questioning Vallejo Police Officer Daniel Callison on the witness stand.

She also noted that Ridgle was arrested on May 26 last year. Court records show he was taken into custody in the 400 block of Pomona Avenue in Vallejo after eluding authorities for several months.

Court records also show that Wright was arrested on Feb. 8 at the Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County, where he was in custody on an unrelated charge. He was later extradited to Solano County to face the murder charge.

During her direct questioning of Callison, Shapiro got the officer to note that Ridgle was informed of his Miranda rights when arrested in May. He also said Ridgle told him he was a resident of Antioch and did not know Wright.

In February, Vallejo police detectives, along with the assistance of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and a Vallejo SWAT unit, attempted to arrest Ridgle in the 1100 block of Porter Street in Vallejo. He eluded capture after a short foot chase and a vehicle pursuit.

Wright and Ridgle remain in custody without bail in the Stanton Correctional Facility in Fairfield.

The series of preliminary hearings began Oct. 12, with testimony heard from law enforcement officers based in Richmond, San Jose, and Vallejo.