Robert Gidding, left, and Joaquin McKenzie have been charged for suspected felonies related to the May 31 home invasion reported off Highway 156.
HOLLISTER
The second suspect in the May 31 home invasion off Highway 156 has been charged on suspicion of six felonies alleging robbery, burglary, false imprisonment and assault with a deadly weapon, according to court documents.
The San Benito County District Attorney's Office last week charged Joaquin McKenzie, 26, with the six felonies, along with a special allegation with each count alleging he used a firearm, according to court records.
Prosecutors filed the charges 10 days after the suspected crimes occurred. The district attorney's office already on June 2 charged McKenzie's alleged counterpart, Gilroy's Robert Gidding, with attempted murder, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon against a peace officer in connection with the home invasion. Gidding's bail has been set at $600,000. McKenzie's bail, meanwhile, has been set at $20,000, and it's unclear yet whether it will change.
McKenzie is appearing in court this afternoon with attorney Harry Damkar representing him.
Authorities suspect the two 26-year-olds robbed the two residents of a home off Highway 156 near San Juan Bautista after they tied and bound the victims, according to the San Benito County Sheriff's Office. Deputies later located the two men a few miles away on the 2200 block of San Juan-Hollister Road.
There, they arrested McKenzie, but were forced to fire about 15 rounds into a vehicle driving toward two deputies. The driver, whom they believe was Gidding, escaped for about five hours before a Hollister Police officer recognized him and arrested the suspect while on a suspicious person call.
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