The former Edinburg Vela High School football star who pointed what people believed to be a gun at several partygoers earlier this month was arrested again on additional charges along with two other men who accompanied him, according to a criminal complaint.
Pablo “PJ” Jesus Rivera, 18, Jonathan Duran, 19, and Rances Banegas Jr., 19, were all charged with four counts of burglary of habitation with the intention of committing another felony on Thursday.
The charges came after several of the people at the party, including the host, Roberto A. Garcia, claimed to be victims of an aggravated assault.
Police responded to 3105 Whitewing Ave. in Edinburg at about 11:10 p.m. on Oct. 1 in reference to a disturbance, the complaint said.
According to the initial affidavit of the incident, Rivera, a former Edinburg Vela football player, was looking for a man later identified as Justin Ray Navarro who he believed to be at the party with his girlfriend after receiving a phone call from a friend.
Rivera got into an altercation with Navarro and pulled what the victims believed to be a gun from his front waistline, according to the complaint.
“A male juvenile will testify that he observed Pablo place what appeared to be a handgun to the side of Justin’s neck during the altercation,” the complaint said.
Navarro told police as much.
One victim, Jorge Luis Vasquez, said he tried to separate Rivera and Navarro, but “Duran tackled him to the ground causing him to fall on his right shoulder causing pain and discomfort,” the affidavit said.
Vasquez told police he would be pursuing assault charges against Duran.
Another victim, Yamith Melguizo, testified she saw Duran and Banegas enter the home with Rivera.
On Oct. 10, Melguizo and Vasquez positively identified Duran and Bangeas in a photo lineup as the two men that accompanied Rivera.
Rivera has denied all allegations against him.
Rivera was initially charged and arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and released the same day on a $20,000 bond.
He was arrested again on Thursday on the four counts of burglary and released the same day on $40,000 in bonds.
Duran and Banegas remain jailed on $40,000 and $80,000 in bonds on the charges, respectively.
RELATED READING:
Former Edinburg Vela football player arrested for pointing ‘gun’ at people at party
