San Diego
Two 19-year-olds from the South Bay must stand trial in Superior Court for conspiring to rob a group of undocumented immigrants at a site just north of the U.S.-Mexico border, a San Diego Municipal Court judge ordered Thursday.
Judge Charles L. Patrick ruled that there was sufficient evidence that the suspects, David Scott McLintock and Tony Lee Lanham, had planned to rob the immigrants Jan. 30 in an open area near Dairy Mart Road. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Six other younger suspects--all allegedly the confederates of the two 19-year-olds--face robbery-related charges in Juvenile Court. All eight alleged assailants are U.S. citizens and residents of the South Bay, authorities say.
During the preliminary hearing, eight undocumented immigrants testified that a group of thieves had attacked them as they made their way north from the border. None could identify the suspects.
Two San Diego police officers, part of a special border anti-crime detail, were following the immigrants, unknown to the alleged attackers, according to testimony.
The officers opened fire on the alleged thieves, killing Roger Varela, 22. Police say Varela brandished a non-functioning replica of a rifle and refused to yield even after the lawmen identified themselves.
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