From left, Brian Lee Rios, Dino Mettao and Terrence Cabrera.
SUPERIOR Court Associate Judge Lillian A. Tenorio on Wednesday dismissed three defendants — Brian Lee Rios, 30, Dino Mettao, 33, and Terrence Cabrera, 31 — from a theft case involving golf carts and tools.
After hearing the testimony of Department of Public Safety Detective Kaegel Taitano, the judge found no probable cause to charge the three of the crime of receiving stolen property.
At the hearing, Rios was represented by attorney Janet King, Mettao was represented by Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig, and Cabrera was represented by attorney Mark Hanson.
Assistant Attorney General Heather Barcinas appeared for the government.
“My client, Brian Lee Rios, was released because there was no evidence or any reason to believe he committed a crime,” King said in a statement. “Police cannot make an arrest without sufficient evidence, which helps prevent random or unfair treatment and ensures that the justice system operates fairly.”
Rios, Mettao, and Cabrera were among the seven men arrested by DPS for theft of golf carts and tools that belonged to Coral Ocean Resort.
The other defendants were Aaron Cabrera, Cain Fitial, Anthony Duenas, and Andrew Duenas. Later DPS also arrested Skyler Benavente in connection with the theft case.
Aaron Cabrera, 22, and Cain Fitial, 20, were charged with conspiracy to commit theft, and theft.
Anthony Duenas, 39, was charged with conspiracy to commit theft, and receiving stolen property.
Skyler Benavente, 38, was charged with receiving stolen property.
On Sept. 24, 2024, arrest warrants were issued by Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio in reference to the golf carts stolen from the Coral Ocean Resort in Koblerville on Sept. 10, 2024. Also stolen were two portable welding machines valued at $1,300 and one Black and Decker Angle Grinder worth $175.
According to DPS, “Follow-up investigations conducted by Criminal Investigation Bureau detectives revealed that Aaron Cabrera and Cain Fitial were initially responsible for the theft incident on Sept. 10. Subsequent investigation led to the recovery of one of the golf carts on Sept. 17, 2024. The next day, a search warrant was issued for the residence of Anthony and Andrew Duenas located in San Antonio, where additional golf cart parts were seized and later positively identified as belonging to Coral Ocean Resort.”
The court also issued arrest warrants for Andrew Duenas, Rios, Mettao, Cabrera, and Skyler Benavente.
