Charges Refiled in Murder of Teacher’s Aide

Prosecutors refiled murder charges Thursday against two reputed gang members accused of gunning down a Santa Ana teacher’s aide and injuring his wife in a tragic case of mistaken identity.

Prosecuting the alleged assailants in the February, 1992, slaying of Joel Davalos, 21, has proven troublesome for authorities in the past, but Deputy Dist. Atty. Mark A. Sevigny said he believes that he now has the evidence for a conviction.

Artemio Rios, 22; Luis Plascencia, 20, and Ronald Azevedo, 20, all of Orange County, were originally arrested and charged with murdering Davalos and seriously injuring his wife, Sylvia, also 21, while the couple were at a small birthday party in a Santa Ana back yard.

A fourth man, Joseph Florencio Arvizu, 20, also of Orange County, was charged but remains at large.

Prosecutors said they believe that the men mistakenly believed the Davaloses were rival gang members.

One by one, charges were dropped against Rios, Plascencia and Azevedo because of insufficient evidence, including a lack of corroboration of statements to police. The men have all denied any involvement with the slaying.

Sevigny said charges were refiled Thursday against Rios and Plascencia, but he declined to reveal new evidence in the case. Charges dismissed against Azevedo were not refiled, Sevigny said. The charge against Arvizu stands, he said.

“We never gave up on this case,” Sevigny said. “We’ve always considered this to be one of our top cases and decided to exhaust every available avenue to solve it,” Sevigny said.

Rios and Plascencia are scheduled to appear in Municpal Court here today for arraignment.

Sylvia Davalos said Thursday that she is pleased that charges were refiled but does not want to hope too much.

“I don’t want it to be the same thing all over again,” Davalos said.