A Santa Barbara rapper and alleged gang member accused of attempted murder will appear in court for arraignment on Wednesday.
Mario Alberto Hernandez-Pacheco, 30, is charged with attempted murder and second-degree robbery with enhancements for causing great bodily injury and assault for the benefit of the Eastside street gang.
Mr. Hernandez-Pacheco has pleaded not guilty and remains in County Jail without bail.
During a preliminary hearing on June 17, Judge James Herman determined evidence was sufficient for Mr. Hernandez-Pacheco to stand trial as charged.
He will appear before Judge Herman again for a second arraignment on the upheld charges in the Anacapa Division of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court.
His second arraignment has been continued several times already according to court records.
During the preliminary hearing, Santa Barbara Police Department Detective Ryan Aijian testified that at around 12:30 a.m. on July 23, 2018, the minor victim, referred to as A.S. in court documents, called 9-1-1 to report the attack.
The victim was taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital where doctors discovered he suffered a 15-centimeter stab wound to the top of his head, a fractured skull, a stab wound to his shoulder and bruises over his chest and arms.
Prosecutors say Mr. Hernandez-Pacheco and several accomplices attacked the minor during a drug deal gone wrong.
Detective Aijian said the victim drove with Mr. Hernancdez-Pacheco and two other minors to the Cacique footbridge where they met up with another suspected Eastside gang member who has not been identified.
The victim claimed the group attacked him when he threatened to call the police if they did not return a backpack that contained drugs, Detective Aijian testified.
The victim claimed all four men participated in the beating.
Mr. Hernandez-Pacheco was arrested Aug. 3, 2018 at an Old Spanish Days Fiesta event. The two juveniles were arrested the next day at their homes.
