Teen charged with murder, assault

A 16-year-old boy was formally charged in adult court Monday with murder and assault in connection with a fatal stabbing in downtown Petaluma.

Gibb Theopolis Olivarez of Santa Rosa made his first appearance in Superior Court, but delayed entering a plea.

Olivarez is being treated as an adult in the fatal stabbing of Nathanial Reifers, 31, and wounding of Salvatore Cucci Jr., 23, of Petaluma on Dec. 17.

A Juvenile Court judge ruled last week the case should go to adult court because of the serious nature of the charges.

Investigators said Olivarez stabbed Cucci after he refused to buy him alcohol at a bar along Petaluma's waterfront. A group of five to 15 men, including Reifers, pursued Olivarez.

In a second confrontation, Reifers was stabbed several times. Members of the pursuing group also apparently beat, kicked and stabbed Olivarez, according to testimony.

No knives were found and no one has been arrested in the Olivarez assault. A friend of Reifers' has been given immunity for his testimony against Olivarez.

Olivarez will continue to be held without bail at Los Guilucos Juvenile Justice Center.

Judge Ken Gnoss set a hearing for July 26 at which Olivarez may enter a plea.