Santana Row Assault Suspects Arraigned, No Hate Charges

Three men accused of beating two Israeli American men outside Augustine restaurant at Santana Row were formally arraigned this week in Santa Clara County, and prosecutors said they are not filing hate-crime enhancements at this stage. The case stems from a March 8 daytime assault in San Jose that was captured on bystander video and drew condemnation from local Jewish groups and elected officials. (da.santaclaracounty.gov) Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen’s office said the defendants face felony and misdemeanor assault charges tied to the attack. Prosecutors said the case remains under investigation. ### Who are the defendants and what charges are they facing? (da.santaclaracounty.gov) Bruneil Henry Chamaki, 32, of Morgan Hill, along with Roma Akoyans, 20, and Ramon Akoyans, 18, both of San Jose, were identified by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office after they surrendered to San Jose police on March 16. The DA’s office said it filed felony and misdemeanor charges after reviewing the March 8 assault. The Hall of Justice in San Jose was set for arraignment proceedings in Department 23, and local reports said the three men were formally charged in court on May 13. Prosecutors have not announced any plea outcomes in the material reviewed here. (da.santaclaracounty.gov) ### What do investigators say happened outside Augustine? March 8 at about 3:38 p.m. is when the assault occurred at Santana Row, according to local television reports and the district attorney’s office. Video recorded by witnesses showed three men attacking two people outside Augustine restaurant in broad daylight. (da.santaclaracounty.gov) The victims told media outlets they had been speaking Hebrew to each other before the attack and did not know the assailants. NBC Bay Area reported that the victims were briefly hospitalized, and one victim said, “I turned around and they started punching.” (da.santaclaracounty.gov) ### Why are there no hate-crime charges right now? Jeff Rosen said when charges were filed in March that they “do not reflect allegations of a hate crime at this time.” His office added that the investigation remained active and that prosecutors were working with San Jose police to review new information. (kron4.com) San Jose police initially described the case as a possible hate-crime investigation after the victims reported antisemitic remarks during the assault. Later charging decisions by prosecutors did not include hate-crime allegations, and multiple local reports said that remained the position at arraignment this week. (nbcbayarea.com) ### What have police and community groups said since the attack? San Jose police said after the arrests that “those responsible for this violent crime will be held accountable.” The department also said it appreciated the public’s patience while investigators worked to handle the case “thoroughly and correctly.” (da.santaclaracounty.gov) Jewish Silicon Valley denounced the attack in the days after the beating, and NBC Bay Area reported that the group’s chief executive planned to meet city officials to discuss prevention steps. Members of Congress including Sam Liccardo and Ro Khanna also condemned the assault in public statements reported by J. (ktvu.com) ### What happens next in the case? The district attorney’s office said the investigation is still open, leaving prosecutors and police room to assess additional evidence as the criminal case moves forward. The agency also urged anyone with information about the March 8 assault to contact the San Jose Police Department at 408-277-4161. (nbcbayarea.com) Santa Clara County Superior Court records and future hearings are expected to show the next procedural steps for Chamaki, Roma Akoyans and Ramon Akoyans as the case proceeds in San Jose. For now, the filed charges remain assault counts without hate-crime enhancements. (da.santaclaracounty.gov) (nbcbayarea.com)