Los Angeles County prosecutors filed murder and kidnapping charges Thursday (12/3) against Gabriel Gomez, half-brother of Sandra Rosas, the wife of founding Los Lobos member Cesar Rosas [ tickets ]. Sandra Rosas, 47, has not been seen since she disappeared from her Los Angeles-area home on Oct. 23, and though her body has not been found, she is presumed dead.

Gomez was arrested for suspicion of kidnapping on Oct. 24, but the District Attorney's office decided against immediately filing charges against him. He remained jailed, however, on an unrelated parole violation.

Under California law, Gomez could be sentenced to the death penalty if he is convicted on all charges. He was scheduled to appear in court today (12/3) to enter a plea.

Though the band has cancelled a long-scheduled two-night stand that was to take place Dec. 16-17 at The Fillmore in San Francisco, Los Lobos does appear to be slowly moving forward in the wake of the tragedy. The band recently scheduled a Dec. 14 concert at the Majestic Ventura Theatre in Ventura, Calif., and Seattle radio station KMMT continues to promote a Dec. 18 benefit show at the Moore Theatre. It could not be determined at press time whether Cesar Rosas will be performing in these shows.

Rosas was on the road with Los Lobos in Louisiana when he received word of his wife's disappearance, whereupon he returned home. He told the press that he last spoke with her on Oct 23, before he and the band took the stage at the House of Blues in New Orleans.

The band performed without Rosas at The Grant Street Dancehall in Lafayette on Oct. 24 and has not played a concert since.

Los Lobos was touring in support of their recently released album ''This Time'' (Hollywood).