Teens face prison in restaurant assault

Two Carson City teens face two to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to the March stabbing of a fast-food worker.

Christopher Piche, 18, and Irvin Garcia, 18, will each be sentenced July 15 on a charge of felony assault with a deadly weapon to promote a criminal gang.

On March 17, suspected gang members Piche and Garcia jumped the counter at the Jack in the Box near Wal-Mart in north Carson City about 9 p.m. to assault a worker they believed was a member of a rival gang, according to police documents.

The employee was able to fend off the assault and suffered a minor stab wound to his torso. The victim does not appear to be affiliated with a gang.

Later that night, Piche and Garcia allegedly went to a local casino and called out a derogatory name for another suspected rival gang member who worked there.

Surveillance at the casino was used to identify Piche and Garcia as the two who assaulted the Jack in the Box employee.

They were arrested in Las Vegas on March 31 and brought back to Carson City on April 2.

In the midst of a preliminary hearing earlier this month, Piche's and Garcia's attorneys indicated their clients were willing to accept a plea deal. The hearing was stopped and the case sent to district court.

Judge Bill Maddox noted in court Tuesday that assault with a deadly weapon carries a penalty of 12 to 72 months in prison and the gang enhancement automatically doubles the penalty.

The offenses, said District Attorney Neil Rombardo, do not qualify for probation.

Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.