Three firefighters who are charged with robbery, dissuading a witness and making a criminal threat to two brothers were in court Tuesday and will stand trial Feb. 21, 2013.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Charles Rogers was assigned the case for trial Tuesday for Andrew Brennen, 30, Gregory Econie, 27 and Vadid Cisneros, 37, who have all pleaded not guilty.
During an 8-day preliminary hearing, witnesses said the victims and the firefighters hurled anti-gay epithets at each other in the Feb. 26 incident along Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. Everyone had been drinking alcohol that night.
Judge Fred Link threw out assault, battery and robbery charges against the trio, saying the victims “started these fights” and he called it “mutual combat.” Deputy District Attorney Michael Runyon refiled the robbery charge and could refile the other charges.
Link was disturbed that the firefighters carried the wallet of one man with them. Witnesses said one firefighter told one man he knew where he lived because of information in the wallet which the victim viewed as a threat.
Econie was bitten on the arm by one of the men in the struggle. Econie testified that Luis and Willie Martinez referred to them as “faggots” and “bitches.” Luis Martinez testified the firefighters called him “a bike faggot” and claimed they took his bicycle. Econie said the bicycle was left at the scene.
The firefighters remain on duty at three different fire stations and they remain free on their own recognizance. Considering how long the preliminary hearing lasted, the trial could last three weeks to a month.
