Delay in Modesto murder trial of off-duty officer

MODESTO -- A judge on Wednesday postponed an arraignment hearing until Nov. 15 for a Hollister man accused of murder in connection with the shooting of his co-worker, an off-duty Department of Defense police officer.

Police say Robert Anthony Moreno pulled out a gun during a fight with a group of people outside a north Modesto bar in late July, opened fire and inadvertently shot to death his fellow federal officer, Daryl Chargualaf.

Judge Ricardo Córdova postponed the arraignment, so Moreno could have more time to retain Edward Sousa, a Santa Clara County-based defense attorney.

Moreno, 30, has been charged with murder, along with two counts each of attempted murder and assault with a semiautomatic gun.

The defendant remains in custody at the Stanislaus County Jail; his bail is set at $2.9 million.