Local Men Suspected in Stow Beating Face Judge

Two Rialto men suspected brutally beating a San Francisco Giants fan at Dodger Stadium on opening day made their first court appearance Monday in Los Angeles.

The two men had their initial arraignments postponed until Aug. 10.

Louie Sanchez, 29, and Marvin Norwood, 30, were arrested Thursday and charged Friday in connection with the March 31 attack of Bryan Stow. The two men, who are neighbors, are each being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

A bail hearing for Sanchez was scheduled for Aug. 1.

Judge Shelly Torrealba denied Norwood’s request to have his bail reduced “based on the seriousness of the charges” and indications the defendant would be a threat to public safety if released, according to a City News Service report.

A declaration by prosecutors requesting the high bail describes the injuries to Stow as “more closely related to a homicide than an ordinary assault,” according to City News Service.

The victim, “suffered substantial brain injury and has been in a coma for three months,” prosecutors wrote. “He will continue to have a serious and disabling brain injury.”

A search of Norwood's home turned up “five firearms, including an AR 15 assault rifle ... Investigation reveals that both Norwood and Sanchez had access to these weapons,'' according to court papers.

Prosecutors also claim in the bail document that Sanchez "told witnesses not to provide information about the crime,” according to the report.

Norwood and Sanchez, handcuffed and seated far apart from each other in the courtroom's holding cell, kept their backs to the courtroom, turning to face the judge briefly during the hearing, the report said. Tattoos were visible on Norwood's arms and neck. Witnesses described one of the assailants as possibly having tattoos on his neck.

Media requests to allow cameras in the courtroom for the hearing were declined. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck canceled an afternoon news conference, in which he was expected to release the men’s mug shots, at the urging of prosecutors, according to City News Service.

Investigators suspect the men may have either assaulted or confronted others that day. They ask anyone who may have been involved in an altercation at Dodger Stadium on opening day to contact investigators.

City News Service contributed to this report.