A Stanislaus County Superior Court judge on Wednesday scheduled a hearing next month at which defense attorneys will challenge a grand jury indictment against five men accused of three takeover-style armed robberies in December 2009.
The defendants are Ray John Luna, 24; Johnny Anthony Montalvo, 21; Anthony Michael Gonzalez, 35; Joe Luis Ramirez Jr., 31; and John Joseph Rivera, 35, all of Modesto.
They have been charged with three counts of armed robbery along with enhancements that relate to committing the crimes for the benefit of a street gang and using a gun.
The five men are known to authorities as members of a Norteño gang regiment, according to Deputy District Attorney Tom Brennan.
Judge Scott Steffen scheduled the defendants to return to court Feb. 24 for the hearing to challenge the indictment.
The armed robberies occurred over a two-week period that culminated on Christmas Eve at Community Trust Credit Union on Tenaya Drive, just east of Modesto Airport.
The other robberies occurred at Quality Inn in the 500 block of Kansas Avenue in Modesto and the Econo gas station on Highway 99 in Lodi.
Stanislaus County prosecutors decided to seek charges in the San Joaquin County robbery because they believe the plot to rob the gas station was hatched locally.
The grand jury indictment means the case goes directly to a jury trial, skipping the preliminary hearing phase where defense attorneys are allowed to question witnesses and argue before the court.
Bee staff writer Rosalio Ahumada can be reached at rahumada@modbee.com or (209) 578-2394.
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