Three Santa Maria men have been ordered to stand trial in what police say was a botched robbery that left one man dead and another seriously injured in December 2023. 

After a preliminary hearing last week in Santa Barbara County Superior Court, Judge Stephen Dunkle ruled that the evidence supports the case moving forward against Andrew Paul Garcia, 34, Arnulfo Ramirez-Villavicencio Jr., 45, and David Olaf Barajas, 35. 

Garcia had been charged with murder and attempted murder plus special allegations for use of a firearm in connection with the Dec. 17, 2023, shooting that killed Joshua Anthony Maldonado, 33, and critically injured Agustin Villavicencio.

In May, Santa Maria police announced that the trio had been linked to the shootings that occurred at a large residential gathering on the 500 block of West Cook Street.

Detectives determined that the shootings took place during a botched armed-robbery attempt. 

Prosecutors also allege that Garcia has one prior felony strike conviction, while Barajas has two prior strike convictions under the state’s Three Strikes sentencing law.

Garcia was ordered to trial on charges of murder, attempted murder, attempted robbery, conspiracy to commit a crime and multiple sentencing enhancements, including a second strike. 

Barajas and Ramirez-Villavicencio were ordered to stand trial on charges of attempted robbery, conspiracy to commit a crime and sentencing enhancements for the involvement of a firearm. 

If convicted, it would be the third strike for Barajas, who was incarcerated in North Kern State Prison serving a sentence for a different case at the time police announced the arrests. 

The three are scheduled to return to court Monday for arraignment.

Garcia and Barajas remained in custody Wednesday at the Santa Barbara County Jail, where they are being held without bail. Ramirez-Villavicencio is out of custody after posting bail.