Phoenix, Arizona – Two of the so-called Gilbert Goons were expected to appear in court on Thursday. Eighteen-year-old Christopher Fantastic faces charges of assault and robbery stemming from an incident outside an In-N-Out in Gilbert in August 2023. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell reported that Fantastic was indicted in January 2024 on charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated assault. He allegedly punched another teen while the victim was on the ground.
Another 18-year-old, Aris Arredondo, was also indicted on charges of aggravated robbery and assault in January for the same incident, as per Mitchell. The victim, who was reportedly sent to the emergency room after the attack, was subsequently sent overseas by his father to live with his mother due to safety concerns.
The court appearances on Thursday come after an announcement involving three other defendants associated with Gilbert Goons group violence cases earlier in the week. Jacob Pennington, Deleon Hayes, and Garrett Bagshaw have all entered plea deals for their roles in the violence. Mitchell emphasized that despite plea deals being offered, the cases are still being taken seriously.
Mitchell clarified that none of the defendants are charged in relation to the death of Preston Lord in Queen Creek. The prosecutor also explained the potential benefits of plea deals in obtaining convictions against other individuals involved in the crimes.
These developments shed light on the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the Gilbert Goons group violence cases. The court appearances serve as a reminder of the consequences of such violent actions and the efforts being made to hold those responsible accountable.