A National City man identified as the getaway driver and his friend have been ordered to stand trial for 11 robberies and attempted robberies that all occurred on the same night in different areas.
Additional charges may be added after all the victims testified April 8 in the preliminary hearing of Benjamin Hernandez of National City and Joseph Andres Garcia, 19, in San Diego Superior Court.
Deputy District Attorney Dan Link said most victims testified about being robbed at gunpoint and he may be adding assault with a deadly weapon charges against the pair. The robberies and attempted robberies all occurred on Feb. 2 to pedestrians, some of whom said guns were held to their heads.
The first robbery happened about 6:50 p.m. in Ocean Beach, and other hold-ups occurred in Hillcrest, Golden Hill, Mission Beach and the Midtown area. Two students were held up at UCSD in La Jolla. Wallets and cell phones were taken from the victims.
Both Garcia and Hernandez have pleaded not guilty and will return to court Tuesday, April 22, to get a trial date set.
Both remain in jail on $500,000 bail each.
