Two Santa Clarita court cases that have been on the books for more than two years were continued Friday, according to officials with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking Santa Clarita news alerts delivered right to your inbox.

The case against three teens who allegedly shot a man during the robbery of a game system, and two teens charged with street racing in another teen’s death, were both set for additional pretrial hearings for next month.

Diamonte Jerome McGhee, Branden Trevaughn Higgs and Eric Michael Edwards, who were all 17 at the time of their alleged crime, are due back in court for another pretrial hearing.

Alex Sanchez was killed and Ricardo Sandoval was injured Oct. 31, 2011, when the three suspects attempted to rob Sandoval and Sanchez, acting as a Good Samaritan, stepped in, according to officials.

McGhee produced a handgun and shot Sanchez in the chest and when Sandoval attempted to run away, McGhee shot him in the leg, according to the complaint.

All three are being charged as adults, and being held without bail in Men’s Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles.

All three have been in custody for their alleged crimes since Jan. 27, 2012.

Related article: Teens Charged In 2011 Halloween Murder Have Case Continued

All three defendants are facing five felony counts of murder, attempted murder, murder with special circumstances, conspiracy to commit a crime and second degree robbery.

McGhee has a prior robbery conviction from March 2010.

Their case, which is being prosecuted by Brad Lieberman, has been continued multiple times.

The case against Colt Doherty and Thomas Vensko is set to resume Feb. 11, according to a District Attorney’s Office spokesman.

On Jan. 10, 2012, Demott and Doherty were traveling in a Ford Mustang at a high rate of speed on Sand Canyon Road, according to court documents.

When Doherty entered a curve, he lost control of the car and collided with a large oak tree, the impact of which ejected Demott from the vehicle and threw him into a fence. Demott was declared dead at the scene.

On May 16, 2013, the delays in the trial for two Canyon Country men accused of reckless driving that led to the death of Dakota Demott prompted the District Attorney’s Office to seek a grand jury indictment, said Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office.

Related article: Trial Delayed Again For Fatal Canyon Country Street Race Charges

When Doherty entered a curve, he lost control of the car and collided with a large oak tree, the impact of which ejected Demott from the vehicle and threw him into a fence. Demott was declared dead at the scene.

In this case, the District Attorney’s Office changed prosecutors, with Kenneth Chu replacing Ruby Arias-Giroux, who was transferred to a different office.

On Friday, the court heard a Pitchess motion, which is when a defense attorney seeks to attain the records of a law enforcement officer involved in an investigation, according to court records.

The outcome of the motion is not yet known, but is expected by February’s hearing.

Doherty has been in custody at Men’s Central Jail in lieu of $1.2 million bail since Aug. 8, 2012.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

[node:title]

Article: [node:title]
Source: Santa Clarita News
Author: [node:author]