Suspect in assault case could face additional charges
The defense attorney representing a man arrested in connection to a brief vehicle pursuit that prompted at least one school to be placed on lockdown asked for another continuance in the case Tuesday due to more charges potentially being filed against his client.
Attorney Raymond Vaca of the Yuma County Public Defenders Office explained during a hearing for his client, Robert Cuen, that he had recently spoken with the prosecutor in the case and was informed that additional charges were going to be filed against his client.
Vaca said he was not prepared to move forward with the case and was asking that the hearing be postponed until he knows what any potential new charges will be.
Prosecutor Tom Varela of the Yuma County Attorney’s Office, however, disagreed, saying there were currently a number of reports under review, which may or may not result in a new indictment being issued against Cuen.
Cuen was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon per domestic violence, unlawful flight from pursuing law enforcement, and two counts of possession of a weapon by a prohibited possessor in the incident.
He was rearrested on May 24 when a new criminal complaint was filed against him, charging him with misconduct involving weapons, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
After hearing from both counsel, Superior Court Judge Brandon Kinsey granted Vaca’s request for a continuance and rescheduled Cuen’s next hearing for 8:30 a.m. on August 6.
According to Yuma police, at about 8:55 a.m. on March 5, officers responded to the 1300 block of South 10th Avenue for a report of an aggravated assault involving a gun.
The suspect, now identified as Cuen, fled the scene with the victim in his car when officers arrived. After a brief chase, Cuen was taken into custody in the parking lot of the Sanguinetti Athletic Complex, located at the corner of 3rd Street and Avenue A.