Rape Suspect Faces Murder Plot Charge
An El Rio man awaiting trial on more than a dozen charges of rape, attempted rape and assault with a deadly weapon will also face charges that he tried to hire someone to kill the key witnesses against him in the case.
Silverio Ambriz 32, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he used his wife to hire a fellow prisoner to kill one of the people who was set to testify against him, said Deputy Public Defender Gary Windom, who is representing Ambriz.
No charges have been filed against his wife.
Ambriz is awaiting trial for allegedly using his truck to run young women off the road along California 118 and then sexually assaulting and raping them.
His trial is set to begin Oct. 27 on those and additional charges, including attempted rape, kidnapping, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.
The new charge that he tried to solicit someone to kill a witness will likely mean a postponement in the trial, Windom said.
“I can’t really comment on the evidence against him because I have not seen it yet,” Windom said. A preliminary hearing on the new charge is scheduled for Oct. 23, Windom said.
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