49er fans charged with parking lot beating of Viking supporter
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (BCN) -- Three men were charged Tuesday in the assault of a 35-year-old man after a San Francisco 49ers game in Santa Clara last week.
Hollister residents Felix Chavira Sr., 32, and Juan Arias, 33, as well as Eric Martinez, a 30-year-old resident of San Jose, allegedly assaulted a Minnesota Vikings fan near the Levi's Stadium parking lot on Sept. 14, Deputy District Attorney Alexandra Ellis said Tuesday.
All three men were charged with assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, according to Ellis.
Martinez and Chavira are also facing a special allegation of personally inflicting great bodily injury on the man and if convicted face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, Ellis said.
- Authorities investigate fight after Monday’s 49ers game
- Bryan Stow condemns brawl after 49ers-Viking game
Arias was also charged with misdemeanor assault on an 18-year-old security guard who attempted to break up the fight. If convicted he could be sentenced to four years in prison, she said.
Martinez was arraigned on the felony charge today at the Hall of Justice in San Jose, where he did not enter a plea and was scheduled to return to court on Sept. 30, when his defense counsel will ask for a bail reduction, Ellis said.
Judge Shelyna Brown set Martinez's bail at $75,000.
Around 10:20 p.m. on Sept. 14, the victim was leaving the stadium after the 49ers won 20-3 against the Vikings, prosecutors said.
The alleged assault happened outside the "C" gate of the stadium parking lot, police said.
"It does appear there was some banter between various individuals coming out of the game however the attack appears to be completely one-sided," Ellis said.
A cellphone video of the attack shows the victim was punched and kicked in the head multiple times by people, later identified as the defendants, in 49ers jerseys.
Detectives were able to identify the victim, security guard and suspects from the video, police said.
Ellis said she was not aware of any specific evidence of alcohol in the case and an investigation is ongoing.
The victim suffered a concussion, prosecutors said, but he was treated and is recovering from his injuries.
The three defendants were arrested Thursday and booked into county jail, police said.
A 17-year-old girl also arrested in connection with the alleged assault was issued a criminal citation and released to her parents, according to police.
Arias and Chavira have posted bail and are scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 17.
City Councilwoman Teresa O'Neill said she planned to discuss limiting alcohol sales at the stadium during tonight's City Council in light of the Sept. 14 attack.
O'Neill and two other council members said they would like the whole council to consider stopping alcohol sales after halftime, adding more security personnel and expanding the stadium's surveillance system.
Chavira was a stadium builders license holder, which provided him access to season tickets with the 49ers, according to city spokeswoman Jennifer Yamaguma.
Chavira's license was revoked due to his behavior in the Sept. 14 incident that was captured on video, according to a letter dated Monday from the city's stadium authority.
The letter states Chavira failed to "maintain proper decorum and violated the policies, rules and regulations set by the stadium authority, 49ers team and stadium's code of conduct."