Four Boys Tried As Adults In Desert Hot Springs Murder; More Arrests Made

Four boys under the age of 16 are being prosecuted as adults in the slaying of a Desert Hot Springs man during a gang-related fight outside a party last weekend, prosecutors confirmed today, as yet another teen was booked on suspicion of murder.

Ruben Alexander Chavez, 14, Steven Ray Arellano, who just turned 14, Omar Hernandez, 16, and Angel David Romero, 15, are each facing a first-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of 23-year-old Jose Alvarez Villalobos.

Hernandez faces an additional count of attempted murder for allegedly stabbing a second victim, identified in court documents only as Daniel S.

The boys, who have pleaded not guilty, are next due in court June 22 for a felony settlement conference.

The teens were arrested earlier this week on suspicion of killing Villalobos, who was injured along with eight other people in the street fight early last Sunday in the 66000 block of Third Street near Cactus Drive.

Another 17-year-old boy was arrested this afternoon upon his release from Desert Regional Medical Center, where he was treated for injuries sustained during the fight, said Sgt. Dan Bressler of the Desert Hot Springs Police Department.

The boy, whose name was not immediately released, was booked on suspicion of murder.

A 16-year-old boy and 18-year-old Mario Pinedo, who both have ties to a local gang, were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of threatening a witness they believed gave information to detectives.

Officers sent to Hacienda Avenue and Palm Drive found Pinedo with a knife in his pocket, Bressler said, adding that additional arrests are expected.

Police have not said how the fight began but have said it was gang- related, though the teens are not facing gang-related charges or allegations.

In March, prosecutors extended a gang injunction to include juveniles in Desert Hot Springs to combat a trend of crimes being committed by 13- to 17- year-olds.

The youths moved into the vacated gang leadership roles of their older siblings.

The older Desert Hot Springs gang members were hit hard by Operation Falling Sun, which resulted in the arrest of more than 100 suspected gang members and parolees in the city, police said previously.

Meantime, a car wash is set up for Saturday from 7:30am and will continue into the afternoon at the Desert Food Mart at the corner of Palm Drive and Ironwood in Desert Hot Springs. Proceeds will help the victim’s family with funeral costs.