A suspected Newhall gang member filed his plea in court Thursday on charges he fatally stabbed another suspected gang member.

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

Cesar Navarro, 21, of Newhall, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a murder charge.

Navarro was held to stand trial for the charges after evidence was presented at a preliminary hearing July 5.

Judge Hayden Zacky found there was sufficient proof to justify the charges that Navarro stabbed Franco Olea, 28, of Newhall, to death outside of Olea’s home in December.

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies presented evidence that the case was gang-related, as Navarro and Olea are thought to be in rival gangs.
In a field interview with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, Navarro allegedly admitted to being a member of the AOBs. A police field interview card revealed that Navarro, also known as Speedy, has an AOB tattoo on his upper left chest.

The AOBs and the Newhall 13 gangs have turf that overlaps in the Newhall area. Their rivalry resulted from a failed merger that took place more a year and half ago.

Personal quarrels prevented the merger from taking place, according to Detective Jeff Burrows, in courtroom testimony.

There are fights on a daily basis between the AOBs and the Newhall 13 that often go unreported, he said.

One of these altercations in December is what led to Olea’s death, he added.

Initial witnesses stated they heard a car’s alarm activate on the street, according to Lt. John Corina of the Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau.

When they went outside, the witnesses saw the victim fighting with another Hispanic male in the driveway of the residence. The suspect appeared to stab the victim and then left the location in an unknown direction.

The case is being prosecuted by deputy district attorney Taly Peretz

Navarro is due back in court Oct. 12.

Navarro is being held in lieu of $1,070,000 bail at the Pitchess Detention Center.

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]