Rock Rioter Goes To Trial

Two men accused of causing thousands of dollars in damage during a riot following the cancellation of a rock concert in Watsonville, Calif., have had their days in court – and at least one will go to jail.

Arturo Arguello and Agustin Augusto were arrested by police during a rescheduled March 1st concert in King City, where witnesses apparently identified the men as those who’d damaged the sound equipment February 25th.

Hundreds of angry fans became disruptive after hearing an announcement that the headliner, Mexican rocker El Tri, would not be able to perform because it was caught in heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada.

Inside the Veterans Memorial Building where the concert was to be held, rioters pushed over a tower of speakers and threw drinks on sound equipment, while other concertgoers took to the streets and vandalized vehicles, causing an estimated $75,000 in damage, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported.

Arguello recently pleaded guilty to vandalism and rioting, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to 90 days of jail time, according to the Sentinel. He was also reportedly ordered to pay $10,500 for damage he caused during the riot.

"He was very honest at the beginning and admitted his wrongdoing early on," prosecutor Barbara Rizzieri told the paper.

Augusto is scheduled to return to court May 23rd, and will face similar charges for his role in the riot, the Sentinel said.