New Charges Filed Against All Three Men Arrested for Fatal Aug. 1 Stabbing on State Street | News Channel 3-12

DA Drops Murder, Gang-Related Charges in Downtown Santa Barbara Stabbing

A Santa Barbara man fatally stabbed in a downtown fight was armed with a knife at the time, investigators said, leading the District Attorney’s Office to amend criminal charges filed against the other men allegedly involved in the incident.  Santa Barbara Police said Anthony Michael Bisquera Hartley, 30, was killed and two other people were wounded in stabbings on the 500 block of State Street around 12:20 a.m. Aug. 1.  On Wednesday, the Santa B…

Men originally hit with murder in fatal Santa Barbara stabbing have charges reduced

Two men charged with murder in early August for a stabbing incident in Santa Barbara that turned fatal have had those charges reduced.The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office announced today the two men, 28-year-old Juan Fernando Rios and 30-year-old Sergio Rivas, were acting in self-defense when they stabbed Anthony Bisquera-Hartley on State Street on Aug. 1.The district attorney says after reviewing additional evidence, it's been de…

New Charges Filed Against All Three Men Arrested for Fatal Aug. 1 Stabbing on State Street | News Channel 3-12

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – On Wednesday, an amended complaint was filed against three men in connection with an Aug. 1, 2025, fatal stabbing on State Street after new evidence was uncovered. All three men named in Wednesday's complaint are the same men arrested and charged for the stabbing death of Anthony Bisquera-Hartley on Aug. 5, 2025. According to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, evidence collected after the charges were fi…