The case of a man who police say robbed a Chula Vista Apple store on April 4 was continued after a scheduled preliminary hearing Monday.
Johnny Chenda was arrested for his connection to the smash and grab robbery of a South Bay Apple store in which a third suspect was shot and killed by a security guard.
Chenda was charged with six counts following his arrest, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit a crime, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, attempted robbery and felony possession of a firearm.
The preliminary hearing will determine if the evidence from the attempted robbery is enough to require a trial. At the time of the robbery, Apple store employees positively identified the suspects – Chenda, Melissa Ortiz and Alex Somphonh Choulamontry. Choulamontry was shot and killed in the get-a-way car by security guard Jose Jimenez.
Ortiz was not charged with the crime for undisclosed reasons.
Choulamontry was a documented gang member and on active California State parole, said Chula Vista Police Dept. spokesperson Bernard Gonzales in an article published by NBCSanDiego.com in April.
“Choulamontry had convictions for theft, possession of controlled substances, driving under the influence and false identification to a peace officer,” Gonzales said.
