Andrew Cachu — charged now under the name Andres Benjamin Cachu* — pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle and driving against traffic, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession for sale of methamphetamine and possession for sale of cocaine, along with one misdemeanor count each of driving under the influence of a drug, possession of a controlled substance with a firearm and possession of cannabis for sale.
The new charges stem from an incident that occurred Tuesday, July 19, around 5:20 p.m. near the intersection of 30th Street East and Avenue R in Palmdale. [Read more here.] Palmdale deputies received a call that a driver had passed out at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta, and responding deputies reportedly saw Cachu slumped over the steering wheel and knocked on his window in an effort to awaken him, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Deputies allegedly observed a firearm in Cachu’s waistband and said he appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance when he was awakened. Cachu allegedly tried to flee from deputies until he drove into a curb and ultimately surrendered, according to the District Attorney’s Office. The criminal complaint in connection with Tuesday’s incident also includes allegations that Cachu was previously convicted in October 2016 of murder and robbery.
Cachu, now 25, was convicted in the March 31, 2015, shooting death of Louis Amela — a 41-year-man who was shot twice in the back outside Sky Burgers on the 1800 block of East Palmdale Boulevard. Amela was fatally shot after getting into a fight with assailants who were trying to steal his bicycle, homicide detectives said.
The appellate court panel noted in a 2-1 ruling that Cachu’s convictions would be deemed to be juvenile adjudications if no motion for a fitness hearing was filed by the prosecution.
In a statement after the latest charges were filed, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said of the murder case, “Based upon the facts of the case and the individual characteristics of Mr. Cachu, we determined that we would not likely prevail in a transfer hearing because we could not prove that he would not have benefited from juvenile resources at the time of the original offense — again, as the law requires. We asked the court to remand Mr. Cachu to the Department of Juvenile Justice and that request was denied. We are frustrated to see that he is struggling, and again, will hold him accountable for the charged offenses.”
Gascón — who is the target of a recall effort — noted that “we are disappointed to learn that Mr. Cachu has not availed himself of the support that he so clearly needs, grateful that no physical harm came to anyone and are committed to holding him accountable as an adult in this case.”
Attorney Kathleen Cady, who represented Amela’s family last year in an effort to keep Cachu behind bars, said Thursday that Gascón’s policies and the actions of his special adviser, Alisa Blair, “are the ones who must be held accountable.”
Cachu is jailed on $1.33 million bail while awaiting a hearing on Aug. 1 to determine if there is sufficient evidence to allow the new case against him to proceed to trial.
*The defendant was charged in the murder case as Andrew Cachu, however, the new case lists his name as Andres Benjamin Cachu.
Previous related stories:
Man arrested after pursuit in Palmdale
Juveniles arrested in connection with Palmdale murder
Man shot and killed in Palmdale
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Vanessa says
I knew it was only a matter of time that this criminal would commit another crime. I just thankful that this guy did not create another grieving family. I also am glad no one else seemed to have gotten hurt.
P says
I’ve read all these comments and most are not related to this specific situation but I totally agree that Gascon need to go! He is letting criminals, murderers out of jail
Alby says
Give that turd the death penaty. I wish someone was there at that moment to ventilate those sacks of garbage. It‘s always cholos and tweekers screwing up this town and it keeps hitting closer to home. I love Sky Burgers. Those are darn good burgers in Palmdale. I could eat a burger over there in peace while Andre Cachu is dangling on a rope from his good for nothing cholo neck. I´ll even use a french fry and ketchup to do impressions of him. As long as stupid cholos don‘t use protection, more stupid cholos are gonna be born and raised into a flock of turds that step on shoes. Why dont school shooters target them and tweakers instead of… schools. Everybody has their priorities out of wack. If they have a stupid looking mustache, stupid tattoos on their face and\or neck, and shaved heads, then they must be looking for some kind of street credibility at the expense of the innocent and are better off seeking such credibility in the afterlife. Better off just going home and sticking their shaved cholo heads in a full can of runny beans and never pull out.
ACE says
HOW I LONG FOR THE FAR SIMPLER WESTERN TIMES…
THE SHERIFF WENT OUT AND EITHER KILLED THE BAD GUYS…
OR BROUGHT THEM BACK FOR A SPEEDY TRIAL THE WHOLE TOWN ATTENDED…
THEN THE BAD GUYS WERE HUNG IN PUBLIC AND BURIED IN BOOT HILL…
***
THOSE WERE THE DAYS..!
***
Red says
I’m with you ace . 100 percent. I watch gunsmoke daily and long for my past life. There’s a place up north where the towns are still western and they will not tolerate these type of people. Cartel tries to grow there they get eliminated
Bill Overdue says
Nothing a couple of rounds won’t take care of.
Both Gascon and this cockroach wannabe gangster.
ExAV says
Well, at least housing is astronomically expensive. We got that going for us.
Janet H. says
Democratic policies. This is what LA residents wanted. You get what you vote for. Take a trip to Alvarado DTLA! Third world.The Republicans we’re right. All the good people are leaving this toilet…
Sherise says
I left the toilet last year in 2021. I finally got the relief I needed.
Tim Scott says
Good, you left. And yet here you are.
Judge SB says
How disgusting that someone that took a life over a bicycle was freed! Gascon acts like criminals need a little therapy and they will change their evil ways. Obviously this person needs to be locked up for good!
Tim Scott says
Ahem, “a state appeals court panel ordered that the case be sent back for a hearing to determine if the case should be handled in juvenile court or adult court as a result of a change in state law.”
Yeah. Gascon did it. In your fantasies.
Care to explain how you claim to be a judge when you apparently can’t read?
Marc says
Look up “Special Directive 20-09 – Gascon”. Then feel free to rescind your own judgmental comments.
Tim Scott says
LOL
You are hilarious. The guy was released because of a change in state law. You apparently disagree with a directive, and I am not going to argue the merits of said directive, but that directive has nothing to do with the case at hand.
P says
This guy killed somebody and was sentenced but was released to do more [removed] not ok
The original SB says
Judgmental doesn’t make one a judge
I recall the sky burger murder.
LisaAnn Sotelo says
Louie was the sweetest man with a heart of gold… I remember that night like it was yesterday… When we meet he didn’t even know me except that someone had stolen my phone that contained photos of my man which had been killed… He went out of his way to help me and we instantly clicked…I think about him often still & missing him hasn’t been easy… I’ll always love him and I can only hope this piece of [removed] remains off the streets forever… [removed] him for destroying my life, his family’s lives and everyone else who knew and love him…
P says
So at for your loss
Palmdale says
Just like Andrew ,Louie was a gang member himself and that’s why he was a target ,Louie frm a gang in northhollywood ,so everyone’s tryna say Louie was a good guy ,OK maybe to women ,who isnt when your tryna get in them pants but this was gang relate, so let’s not try to act like Louie was a law abiding citizen, cuz he wasn’t. He was a gang member frm the gang called north Hollywood Boyz. An that’s a fact !!!
Liars don’t figure and figures don’t lie says
Hey dim and stinker those pesky Ada’s
Are going to be talking more nonsense about gascon again over this one. This guy clearly deserved to be out of jail in six years after murdering and innocent person. It wasn’t his fault he shot someone in the back of the head when he was 17 . He was a child and would have never shot this guy at 18 years old because we all know how much we mature from 17 -18. At some point tim and stink face should just admit gasocons policies are moronic, nonsensical and a threat to the innocent. That would mean they would have to both have a lucid thought and deductive reasoning. Well, we know that won’t happen…… ever.
Tim Scott says
And we see that you also can’t read. Not really news there.
Frank Rizzo says
I don’t understand how anyone could support gascone. I Scott must be a criminal. The only people who like gascone are criminals or mentally ill.
Tim Scott says
In a little place called reality the only people who strongly dislike him are the ADAs that are desperately trying to get back to the gravy train days and the people who are all in on buying the ADA propaganda. I don’t really care much one way or the other about Gascon, I just find the dishonesty of the ADAs’ campaign to be intellectually offensive.
Beecee says
“In a little place called reality the only people who strongly dislike him are the ADAs“
Well, just shows all of us this altered reality you live in. There are numerous family members and loved ones of those victims that have been affected by these disastrous policies and directives.
We see more push back from them then we do from the ADA’s that have their hands tied behind their backs.
AV Resident says
Mr Gascon at work here.
Recall the worthless, criminal loving DA.