Charges Dismissed Against One Of Eight Suspected Teen Attackers

Charges were dismissed today against one of eight teenagers accused in the gang-related stabbing death of a man outside a party in Desert Hot Springs.

New evidence was found that exonerated 17-year-old Jonathan Romero in the June 13 death of 23-year-old Jose Alvarez Villalobos, who died at a hospital following a street fight in the 66000 block of Third Street near Cactus Drive.

But Romero’s 15-year-old brother, Angel, is still facing a murder charge in adult court, along with Samuel Manuel Vallejo, 17, Bryan Gonzalez, 16, Ruben Alexander Chavez, who just turned 15, Steven Ray Arellano, 14, Omar Hernandez, 16, and David Larios, 17.

Gonzalez, Chavez, Arellano, Hernandez and Angel Romero are accused of being active participants in the West Drive Locos criminal street gang. All of the boys are charged with a sentence-enhancing allegation of committing a felony for the benefit of a street gang.

The charges were dismissed against Jonathan Romero at a felony settlement conference, which was delayed for the other defendants until Jan. 11. Detectives did follow-up interviews that placed the older Romero at home during the fight, Deputy District Attorney David Anderson told City News Service.

“He may have been (at the party) at one time,” Anderson said, “but it doesn’t look like he has anything to do with the actual stabbing.”

The prosecutor said he has the option to reinstate charges if any other evidence comes forward, but “we have no plans of that right now.”

Romero, who has been in custody for about five months, was to be released from Juvenile Hall today.

The remaining boys are being held in lieu of $1 million bail at Indio Juvenile Hall.