Possible Plea Deals In Works For Some Christmas Day Killing Defendants

Three of the seven defendants connected to the Christmas Day killing of 20-year-old Buck Garner in Ammon were back in court on Monday.

The appearances painted a clearer picture of which defendants’ cases will likely go to trial, and which may involve a plea deal.

Adan Cisneros was first to appear before Judge Dane Watkins Jr.

“An offer has been made that Adan is considering,” said his attorney, public defender Trent Grant.

Watkins said he wished to schedule a trial date should a deal not come together. The Cisneros trial has been tentatively scheduled for May 29, with a status conference scheduled for April 30th to determine whether or not an agreement will be made.

Attorney John Stosich said his client, Brent Pongyan, needed more time for evidentiary discovery. Deputy prosecutor Daniel Clark did not object, citing the state’s own need for more time on the case.

“The state is completing what we think is the last bit of evidentiary testing on the various DNA evidence,” said Clark.

Stosich also asked for the defendant’s trials to be severed, and Watkins said he believed the defendants would be tried separately. Watkins set a pretrial for Pongyan for May 21, and a trial date of June 5.

He also granted a hearing for a motion of release for Pongyan on April 9. Pongyan and Cisneros are both currently in custody.

Derek Perez also appeared in court on Monday with defense attorney Kelly Mallard.

“We have not reached a resolution yet in Mr. Perez’s case,” said Mallard. “I have had a plea agreement submitted to me by Mr. Clark.”

Mallard said he had yet to discuss the terms of the potential plea agreement with his client. Watkins granted a new pretrial date of April 23 and a trial date of May 1.