Suspects plead not guilty as beating victim remains comatose

One of two men arrested for allegedly attacking and robbing a man outside a Cathedral City bar in June, leaving the victim in a coma from which he has not emerged, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to attempted murder and robbery charges.

Jorge Tapia of Cathedral City, 36, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, robbery, and possession of controlled substances with a sentence- enhancing allegation of rendering the victim comatose.

His co-defendant, Andrew Ponce, 43, also of Cathedral City, pleaded not guilty last Friday to attempted murder, robbery, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, along with the comatose allegation.

The men, along with an unspecified number of suspects who remain at large, are accused of attacking Rolando Rodriguez at about 2 a.m. on June 25 outside the Block Sports Bar and Grill at 68955 Ramon Road.

Cathedral City police Sgt. Andrew Diaz said Rodriguez remains in a coma and is being treated at a medical center outside of the county.

Members of the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force and Cathedral City police detectives served search warrants at two Cathedral City homes last week following a “lengthy investigation” that led to the identification of “multiple suspects” allegedly involved in the attack, said sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Tapp.

Ponce and Tapia were booked at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, where they were each being held in lieu of $1 million bail, according to jail records.

Both men are slated to appear at the Larson Justice Center in Indio next Wednesday for a felony settlement conference.