A third man charged in connection with an ultimately deadly robbery in downtown Riverside pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony allegations.
Fidel Isaiah Esparza Bermudes, 20, was arrested Tuesday by Riverside Police Department Robbery-Homicide Unit detectives for his alleged participation in the attack on 26-year-old Eduardo Vasquez III of Riverside.
Bermudes was arraigned Thursday, pleading not guilty to robbery and sentence-enhancing allegations of possession of a firearm during a felony and taking part in a crime in which he knew others were armed. Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gary Polk scheduled a felony settlement conference for Feb. 9, when Bermudes will appear alongside his co-defendants, Benjamin Gennadievich Boshae and Uriel Morales, both 19 and of Fontana.
Those two men were arraigned in October on charges of attempted murder and robbery. The victim was still on life support at the time of their arraignment. An amended complaint has since been filed, charging the pair with murder, for which they’re expected to be re-arraigned.
Vasquez succumbed to his wounds on Dec. 12 at Riverside Community Hospital.
Bermudes is believed to be the final person wanted for the alleged Oct. 5 attack.
“This case is a reminder of the importance of personal safety, particularly in busy nightlife and entertainment areas,” police Lt. Trinidad Lomeli said. “We encourage people to remain aware of their surroundings, especially when walking between venues or parking areas. Keep personal items hidden, trust your instincts and if something doesn’t feel right, remove yourself from the situation and report it immediately.”
Boshae and Morales were arrested following a dayslong investigation into the attack.
According to police spokesman Officer Ryan Railsback, shortly after midnight on Oct. 5, there was an unspecified confrontation between the defendants and victim on Main Street, in the parking lot adjacent to Riverside City Hall.
The encounter culminated in gunfire, leaving the victim lying wounded in the lot, Railsback said, adding the assailants immediately fled.
Patrol officers and paramedics reached the location within minutes and found the victim in critical condition. He was rushed to the hospital only a few blocks away, and detectives initiated an investigation that, four days later, led to arrest warrants being obtained and served on Boshae and Morales, though no specific details were provided regarding how they were identified.
Boshae was taken into custody without incident on Jaggery Street in Fontana, while Morales was arrested uneventfully on Cypress Avenue in the same city.
Boshae has no documented prior felony convictions in adult court. However, records indicated that Morales has a prior felony, which wasn’t listed.
Bermudes has no document priors in Riverside County. He’s being held in lieu of $75,000 bail at the Robert Presley Jail, where Boshae is also being held — in lieu of $1 million bail. Morales is being held on the same amount at the Byrd Detention Center.