A man already in jail in connection with the stabbing death of a Watsonville man was charged this week with felony possession of a homemade weapon while incarcerated.
Oscar Vaca Vargas, 20, was charged when he was found with a homemade weapon -- a "shamk" -- while at the Santa Cruz County Jail, the District Attorney's office reported.
Vargas is suspected in the Feb. 28 beating and stabbing death of Felipe Reyes in Watsonville.
His arraignment on the felony charge is set for Monday in Superior Court in Santa Cruz, authorities said.
Three minors were also charged in the murder and will be tried as adults, officials said; Andres Rocha, 17, Eric Romeo, 15 and German Carrillo, 17, have been charged along with Vargas with murder, conspiracy and assault by force with gang enhancements attached to each one.
Prosecutors have combined their cases and the four defendants, who have court-appointed attorneys, are to appear together in court Wednesday morning.
Rocha, Romeo and Carrillo are to be arraigned and then preliminary hearings will be set for them and Vargas, who pleaded not guilty Monday during his arraignment related to Reyes' murder.
Vargas faces an additional felony charge of attempting to intimidate a witness before his arrest in connection with the murder.
