No plea entered in fast food stabbing

Two men who were expected to plead to the March stabbing of a fast food worker had their district court arraignments continued for two weeks.

Christopher Piche, 18, and Irvin Garcia, 18, appeared before District Court Judge Maddox, but Piche's defense attorney Ben Walker asked for a continuance because the plea agreement had not yet been drafted.

District Attorney Neil Rombardo said that he wished to continue with Garcia's arraignment since the deal he's struck with the defendants will fall apart if either backs out from pleading assault with a deadly weapon with a gang enhancement.

The new arraignment date was set for June 3.

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 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.

Each remains in custody on $100,000 bail and a hold from juvenile courts.

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