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3 Alleged Norteno Gang Members Held to Answer for Homicides that Devastated South Monterey County in 2024

 

Monterey County, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on November 13 that the Honorable Rafael Vazquez held defendants Pedro Nava, Jonathan Cervantes, and

Angel Evans to answer for multiple crimes relating to homicides that happened in South Monterey County in early

2024. Judge Vazquez issued his holding order after a weeklong preliminary hearing that was heard

the week of October 27, 2025. At a preliminary hearing the judge, acting as a magistrate, hears

evidence and determines whether there is probable cause to believe that the defendants have

committed the charged crimes.

Judge Vazquez held defendants to answer to the following:

As to all three defendants:

➢ Count 1, Penal Code § 187: the February 4, 2024, Willful, Deliberate, and Premeditated

Murder of Jack Canchola.

➢ Count 2, Penal Code § 187: the February 4, 2024, Willful, Deliberate, and Premeditated

Murder of Andres Salvador Garcia.

➢ Count 3, Penal Code § 182/187: the February 4, 2024, Conspiracy to Commit Murder.

➢ Count 4, Penal Code § 246: the February 4, 2024, Shooting at an Occupied Motor Vehicle.

➢ Count 5, Penal Code § 187: the March 3, 2024, Willful, Deliberate, and Premeditated

Murder of Francisco Aldape Perez.

➢ Count 6, Penal Code § 187: the March 3, 2024, Willful, Deliberate, and Premeditated

Murder of Olivo Pina Perez.

➢ Count 7, Penal Code § 187: the March 3, 2024, Willful, Deliberate, and Premeditated

Murder of Mario Guzman.

➢ Count 8, Penal Code § 187: the March 3, 2024, Willful, Deliberate, and Premeditated

Murder of Alicia Ramirez Aparicio.

➢ Count 9, Penal Code § 182/187: the March 3, 2024, Conspiracy to Commit Murder.

➢ Count 10, Penal Code § 664/187: the March 3, 2024, Attempted Willful, Deliberate and

Premeditated Murder of King City Victim 5.

➢ Count 11, Penal Code § 664/187: the March 3, 2024, Attempted Willful, Deliberate, and

Premeditated Murder of King City Victim 6.

➢ Count 12, Penal Code § 664/187: the March 3, 2024, Attempted Willful, Deliberate, and

Premeditated Murder of King City Victim 7.

➢ Count 13, Penal Code § 664/187: the March 3, 2024, Attempted Willful, Deliberate, and

Premeditated Murder of King City Victim 8.

➢ Count 14, Penal Code § 664/187: the March 3, 2024, Attempted Willful, Deliberate, and

Premeditated Murder of King City Victim 9.

➢ Count 15, Penal Code § 664/187: the March 3, 2024, Attempted Willful, Deliberate, and

Premeditated Murder of King City Victim 10.

➢ Count 16, Penal Code § 664/187: the March 3, 2024, Attempted Willful, Deliberate, and

Premeditated Murder of King City Victim 11.

➢ Count 17, Penal Code § 664/187: the March 3, 2024, Shooting at an Inhabited Dwelling.

➢ Count 18, Penal Code § 186.22(a): February 4, 2024, Street Terrorism.

➢ Count 19, Penal Code § 186.22(a): March 3, 2024, Street Terrorism.

As to Jonathan Cervantes and Angel Evans only:

➢ Count 20, Penal Code § 211: the February 3, 2024, Second Degree Robbery of John Doe

#1.

➢ Count 21, Penal Code § 245: the February 3, 2024, Assault with a Semi-Automatic

Firearm upon John Doe #1.

➢ Count 22, Penal Code § 186.22(a): February 3, 2024, Street Terrorism.

As to Angel Evans only:

➢ Count 23, Vehicle Code § 10851: January 24, 2024, Unlawful Driving or Taking of a

Vehicle.

➢ Count 24, Vehicle Code § 10851: February 24, 2024, Unlawful Driving or Taking of a

Vehicle.

➢ Count 25, Penal Code § 417: February 3, 2024, Exhibiting a Concealable Firearm in

Public.

➢ Count 26, Penal Code § 29820: February 4, 2024, Unlawful Firearm Activity.

➢ Count 27, Penal Code § 29820: March 3, 2024, Unlawful Firearm Activity.

➢ Count 28, Vehicle Code § 10852: February 17, 2024, Damaging a Vehicle.

➢ Count 29, Penal Code § 530.5: February 17, 2024, Identity Theft.

Judge Vazquez held the defendants to answer for multiple special circumstances on the homicide

charges and found probable cause to believe the defendants discharged a firearm during the crimes

on February 4, 2024, and March 3, 2024. Further, Judge Vazquez found probable cause to believe

many of the crimes were committed for the benefit of the Norteno Criminal Street Gang, more

specifically, the Tiny Locos (TLS) faction of the Norteno Criminal Street Gang out of Greenfield,

CA.

In January and February of 2024 Angel Evans and other Norteno Gang members stole two vehicles

from cities on the Monterey Peninsula. At the time, Evans was participating in the TAILS program

at Wonderwood Ranch in Prunedale, CA. The director of the ranch testified at preliminary hearing

that Wonderwood Ranch utilized grant money to pay for an apartment for the then 17-year-old on

the same road as the ranch. Evans was released from custody in a penal institution into this

program. The remote area in which he was provided housing allowed Angel Evans to store the two

stolen vehicles near his residence for extended periods of time, possess and secrete multiple

firearms, as well as test fire multiple rounds of ammunition at an adjoining property.

On the evening of February 3, 2024, Angel Evans, Jonathan Cervantes, and two uncharged

assailants committed an armed robbery at the Big 5 sporting goods store at the Northridge Mall in

Salinas, CA. They utilized one of the two stolen vehicles. The crew stole over $2,000 of

ammunition.

The next day on February 4, 2024, following communication from Pedro Nava, a group of gang

members including Angel Evans and Jonathan Cervantes went searching for rival gang members.

Instead, they mistakenly murdered cousins Jack Canchola and Andres Garcia on Los Coches Road

in unincorporated Monterey County outside of Soledad, CA. They utilized the same stolen vehicle

in this crime. The victims sustained over 40 gunshots wounds combined.

On March 3, 2024, following communication from Pedro Nava, a group of gang members including

Angel Evans and Jonathan Cervantes opened fire on a family party in King City, CA. The crew was

armed with three firearms, at least one of which had been modified to be fully automatic. They

killed Francisco Perez, Olivo Perez, Mario Guzman, and Alicia Aparicio and inflicted great bodily

injury on 7 other victims. They utilized the second stolen vehicle in this crime. The deceased

victims sustained over 20 gunshot wounds combined.

All three defendants will be arraigned on December 4, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in

Department 5 of the Monterey Superior Court.

The investigation into these crimes remains ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to

reach out to law enforcement. 

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