At a hearing held at the Nogales Justice Court on Oct 16, Santa Cruz County Justice of the Peace Emilio Velasquez continued the preliminary hearing for Charles Van Nest, of Patagonia. He set Nov 20 as the date for Van Nest to appear in court after conferring with Deputy County Attorney Gary Redente and Van Nest’s court appointed attorney, Charles Spector.
Van Nest, who appeared at the hearing handcuffed, with restraints and in striped jail-issued clothing, has been charged with premeditated attempted murder, 1st degree, aggravated assault with serious physical injury, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence / criminal damage and criminal damage, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department.
The female victim of the attack, which occurred Oct 4, was stabbed repeatedly and suffered serious injuries, including reportedly a collapsed lung and a brain bleed. Van Nest is being held on a $1 million bond, Van Nest remained at large until Wed, Oct 9, when he was taken into custody by Marshal Joe Patterson. The lead investigating officer, Patagonia Deputy Dan Atkinson, filed the complaint against Van Nest on Oct 10.