A Canyon Country gang member found in the city of Bell, after an SCV street fight escalated into a July 19 stabbing, pleaded no contest Friday at Los Angeles County Superior Court in San Fernando, said Shiara Daviles-Morales, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Omar “Swifty” Chaparro, 20, of Canyon Country, was arrested July 27 for one count of assault with a deadly weapon, the charge for which he pleaded no contest.
“He’s expected to be sentenced to two years in state prison on Sept. 9,” Daviles-Morales said. “At that time, restitution will be discussed.”
The court views a no contest plea as the same as a guilty plea, according to officials.
Chaparro is due back in court Sept. 9 for sentencing.
“It’s just going to be more of a fight,” said Detective Jeff Burrow, who investigated the crime for the Special Assignment Team of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
Two friends, a male black adult and a male Hispanic adult, were confronted by Chaparro while walking down the 14800 Block of Jakes Way in Canyon Country, according to a statement from Sheriff’s Station officials.
Chaparro made several racial slurs towards the male black adult and challenged him to fight, the statement said.
As the suspect advanced towards the male black adult, his friend stepped in to protect him from the suspect.
Chaparro and the Hispanic friend allegedly began to fight, and Chaparro is accused of stabbing the victim once in the side during the altercation.
The suspect ran from the scene and escaped arrest at that time. The victim was treated at a local area hospital’s emergency room and released.
The station’s COBRA Team handles all juvenile and gang-related crimes.
On July 27, Detectives with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station went to a location in Bell where they believed Chaparro was hiding out, conducted a surveillance of the home and, while doing so, a man exited the house matching the description of the suspect.
Deputies detained Chaparro, confirmed his identity and arrested him for the stabbing, after more than a weeklong search.
Chaparro was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail, and there is also an immigration hold from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department records.
CC Gang Banger Pleads No-Contest to Knife Attack
