Dos hombres acusados de un asesinato en 2021 en Vallejo enfrentan juicio en junio

Two men charged with a 2021 killing in Vallejo had their trial confirmed for June in Solano County Superior Court on Friday and will return for a trial confirmation in February. Judge John B.

Ellis ordered Kevonte Maurice Ridgle, 33, of Antioch, and Dequan Antonio Wright, 32, of Vacaville, to return for trial on June 16 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 23 at the Fairfield Law and Justice Center.

Jury selection is expected to take up at least the first week of trial in the case. Vallejo criminal defense attorney Dustin M.

Gordon represents Ridgle. San Francisco attorney Jai M.

Gohel represents Wright. Deputy District Attorneys Jason Lianides and Ilana Shapiro represent the DA’s Office.

As previously reported, Ridgle and Wright are charged with the Sept. 16, 2021 killing of Edward Anderson, 38, at the Black Bear Diner, 980 Admiral Callaghan Lane, in Vallejo, a crime investigators believe was gang-related.

Ridgle is charged with first-degree murder, a felony with the special circumstance of lying in wait, and several enhancements: being a member of a street gang, being a repeat offender, and causing great bodily injury. He also is charged with having three prior convictions of being a felon or addict in possession of a firearm.

Wright also faces a first-degree murder charge, with the same enhancements, and also having three prior convictions of being a felon or addict in possession of a firearm. After an 11-day preliminary hearing in 2022, both defendants were held for trial.

They pleaded not guilty. If found guilty at trial of first-degree murder, Ridgle and Wright each face 25 years to life, plus the likelihood of significant additional time for using a gun, committing a crime to benefit a gang, if found to be true, being previously convicted felons, and the special allegation, if proven, of lying in wait.