A convicted felon accused of stabbing and attempting to shoot two security guards who prevented him from entering a Riverside bar pleaded not guilty Wednesday to attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon charges.
Hugo Cesar Garciao, 32, was arrested Feb. 16 after the alleged attack in the 3200 block of Iowa Avenue, near Blaine Street, just north of the UC Riverside campus.
He faces three counts each of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.
The defendant was arraigned before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Emma Smith, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for April 11 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
According to Riverside police Officer Ryan Railsback, Garciao went to the bar shortly after midnight on Feb. 16, seeking to be admitted. Security personnel at the door stopped him, believing he might start trouble at the establishment, at which point Garciao turned aggressive, pulling a knife on the guards, Railsback alleged.
The defendant allegedly stabbed one guard, and when the victim’s colleague came to his aid, Garciao allegedly stabbed him, too.
“The suspect then produced a firearm and shot at the first security member,” Railsback alleged. “At some point, he fired a gunshot toward the second security member, but also missed.”
Other bar employees went to assist, and Garciao was wrestled to the ground and held down until patrol officers arrived and took him into custody.
The convicted felon was searched and allegedly found to be in possession of two handguns, according to Railsback.
The two guards were taken to Riverside Community Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening wounds, from which they’re recovering.
Garciao was not injured.
According to court records, he has prior convictions in another jurisdiction, but they were not specified.
Garciao is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.