Arraignment postponed for teen charged in Watsonville fatal stabbing

Arraignment for the 16-year-old charged in Sunday’s fatal stabbing in Watsonville was postponed Wednesday to allow the public defender time to review the case.

Jose Guzman is charged with first-degree murder as an adult.

He appeared in Santa Cruz County Superior Court Wednesday, where he was appointed a representative from the public defender’s office, District Attorney Rafael Vazquez said. The public defender’s office asked for more time to review Guzman’s case to ensure there are no conflicts in representing him.

Guzman, who is in custody at Juvenile Hall, is due back in court on May 21 to confirm representation and be arraigned on the charge. He’s being held in lieu of $750,000 bail.

Watsonville police officers found 51-year-old Lorenzo Colimote Avalos with on the Pajaro River levee Sunday evening with a severe stab wound. Emergency personnel responded but he was declared dead at the scene.

Witnesses told police they saw two teenage boys having an altercation with Avalos. One of the teens, Guzman, was arrested around 1 a.m. the next morning at his home and taken into custody.