Suspects in Motel 6 Stabbing Will Stand Trial for Attempted Murder

Two men accused of beating and stabbing a 30-year-old man outside a motel in Carlsbad last year must stand trial on attempted murder and assault charges, a judge ruled Wednesday.

After a daylong preliminary hearing, Vista Judge Runston Maino found that enough evidence had been presented for Bradley Lee Koppel and Hector Isais Cota to proceed to trial. Cassandra A. Clouser, who allegedly arranged transportation to help the male defendants get away, was ordered to stand trial on a charge of being an accessory to a crime, said Deputy District Attorney Tracy Prior.

allegedly got into an argument with the victim, Matthew Gobster, outside the Motel 6 on 1006 Carlsbad Village Drive just before midnight Nov. 20 and attacked him. Police say they started kicking and beating Gobster, and then Koppel, 22, pulled out a knife and stabbed him repeatedly. The male suspects and Clouser, 20, ran off after the attack, according to police, who tracked them down because she had rented a room at the motel. Gobster was taken to a hospital in critical condition, but survived the attack.

The defendants will be back in court March 9 for arraignment and to get a trial date.

CNS contributed to this story