Man sentenced for driving murder suspect away

A man who drove the suspect in a shooting in Temecula away from the restaurant where one person was killed and two others were injured in January was sentenced to nine months and one week in jail on Tuesday.

The judge then credited Nickolas Trichanh, 22, of Corona, with seven months and almost three weeks for time served and sentenced him to two years probation during the hearing at Southwest Justice Center.

He had pleaded guilty to one count of accessory after the fact, a felony, on March 30.

The man accused of the Jan. 9 shooting, Kevin Duane Hatchett Jr., 24, of Wildomar, has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and two misdemeanor firearms charges. He is due back in court on July 13.

Trichanh’s attorney, Nic Cocis, said Trichanh was acquainted with Hatchett.

They were in the bar at The Bank, a Mexican restaurant in Old Town, and had been drinking. Then there was an argument. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said the people were on the patio when Hatchett fired shots, killing Desmond Dyas, 28, of Hemet.

“Once Nickolas realized this argument was escalating, he tried to de-escalate it,” Cocis said in an interview. “And unbeknownst to him, the gun was pulled and bullets started flying. Nickolas himself almost got shot. He was almost in shock as to what was happening. Then as he was running away, the shooter said ‘Give me a ride back to my car.’ “

Trichanh did that, Cocis said, knowing that he was transporting the gunman, and then went home and called the Sheriff’s Department to tell authorities what had happened. Hatchett was arrested the next day.

“From the beginning, (Trichanh) has been remorseful,” Cocis said.

WATCHARA PHOMICINDA — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER One person was shot to death and two others were wounded at The Bank restaurant, seen above, in Old Town Temecula on Jan. 9. On Tuesday, a Corona man was sentenced for driving the shooting suspect away from the scene.