Jury trials expected to be set this week for defendants in high school teacher’s death

By Dave Toplikar

Tuesday, March 8, 2011 | 1:09 p.m.

Trials are expected to be set Thursday for five of the six people who are charged in the robbery, beating and eventual death of Timothy VanDerbosch, an El Dorado High School physics and chemistry teacher on Oct. 20, 2010, as he was walking to school.

So far, the only one with a jury trial date is Marisol Diaz, whose trial will begin at 1:30 p.m. July 18 before Judge Kenneth Cory. Diaz's trial is expected to last two weeks.

Diaz's attorney, Robert Langford, asked on Jan. 6 to sever her case from the other cases.

According to court records, on Feb. 24, attorneys for Saul Favela, 19; Marcos Coronel Castrejon, 20; Daniel Carrillo, 16; and Bridget Lugo, 20, also each asked for their clients to be tried separately.

The district attorney's office is seeking the death penalty for two of the defendants, Favela and David Rosas, 20.

A court hearing to set the remaining trial dates will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday before Clark County District Judge Jennifer Togliatti.

A grand jury has indicted each of the six defendants on 24 felony counts in connection with the robbery, beating and death of VanDerbosch, as well as robberies and beatings of other victims.

The charges against the six include five counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, 10 counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon, two counts of burglary while in possession of a firearm, three counts of battery with use of a deadly weapon, three counts of battery with intent to commit a crime and one count of murder with use of a deadly weapon.

All six remain in the Clark County Detention Center without bail.

VanDerbosch, 50, died Oct. 20 after he was allegedly chased, robbed, beaten into unconsciousness and run over by a truck while he was walking to Eldorado High School, where he taught chemistry and physics. He died at University Medical Center.

Police said they believe the six defendants committed a number of other robberies and beatings in the same time period.

The indictment alleges the six robbed 10 people, each time using a firearm and/or a knife. It alleges two of the victims allegedly had their vehicles stolen, one was hit in the head with a fist, two were hit with a firearm and one was stabbed in the leg with a knife.

Items allegedly taken from the victims include wallets, a briefcase, cell phones, purses, key chains, a debit card, a Social Security card, jeans, a gold chain, a phone charger, a hat and money.

In addition, the indictment alleges VanDerbosch was robbed using a firearm and/or a knife and was hit in the head and body by the defendants’ hands and/or feet, causing him to fall into the road, where he was fatally struck hit by a vehicle.