On Thursday, District Judge William Furse modified the bond of a man facing charges related to last month's gunfire at Patron Nightclub in Cortez and scheduled a plea hearing for April.
Omar Brito appeared in 22nd Judicial District Court for a bond hearing and return filing of charges. He was not in custody and was in the process of hiring an attorney.
Brito is not eligible for a preliminary hearing, so his plea hearing was set for April 3 at 9 a.m. Furse also modified Brito’s bond, allowing him to leave the state to drive his daughter back to college after spring break, per Brito’s request.
Brito was arrested Feb. 23 at Patron Nightclub on suspicion of felony menacing, prohibited use of a firearm, obstruction, carrying a concealed firearm without a license, and possession of a weapon by a previous offender after police received multiple calls about gunshots.
Six callers reported the sound around 3 a.m., saying the shots seemed to come from West Montezuma Avenue and West Empire Street, west of North Chestnut Street.
He was arrested outside Patron Nighclub after being seen with a handgun and walking away from an officer. Though he initially ran, he was arrested outside the building without incident.
Before locating the gun, police found “numerous” 9 mm shells north of the nightclub. No one had reportedly seen Brito fire the gun, however. The .22-caliber Glock 44 was later found in a field to the west of the nightclub.
According to Saudiel Arellanes Blanco, owner of Patron, Brito had been asked to leave for “causing issues with other customers.”
Brito also reportedly pointed the handgun at one of the bouncers, who also identified himself as Brito’s cousin.
Brito’s criminal history also revealed two felony burglary convictions and a charge of possession of a weapon by a previous offender.
