Duo Pleads Not Guilty to Attempted Murder Charges

Two men facing attempted murder charges for allegedly stabbing a man inside a vehicle in Carpinteria earlier this month pleaded not guilty to the allegations Monday.

The two, Daniel Esquivel, 23, and Bryan Duran, 19, also face special gang and weapon allegations, and charges of being under the influence of cocaine, while Esquivel also is charged with a misdemeanor resisting a police officer. A third suspect, Manuel Lopez, 31, has not been caught by authorities.

According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, the victim was willingly traveling with the three suspects early in the morning on December 16 when they began attacking him, stabbing him inside the vehicle. He managed to escape and call police. He was treated and released from Cottage Hospital.

Sheriff’s deputies were able to quickly track down Esquivel and Duran, who were arrested the same day as the attack. The two, both being held in Santa Barbara County Jail on $1 million bail, will be back in court on January 12.