No charges filed in Newport businessman’s death

Prosecutors will not charge a man for shooting and killing a Newport Beach bail bondsman during an argument in Rancho Santa Margarita last year.

After a five-month investigation, Orange County District Attorney investigators determined there was “insufficient evidence” to file criminal charges against Brian Scott Ostrom for killing Dean Patrick Maldonado on July 17, 2010, according to a letter from prosecutors dated Dec. 8.

The letter did not say if prosecutors considered the shooting self-defense.

Maldonado, 49, owned Dean Maldonado Bail Bonds in Newport Beach. He was killed when he showed up at Linda Shaw’s home in Rancho Santa Margarita just before midnight.

Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators said Maldonado and Shaw had an off-and-on relationship for years, and when he showed up at the home, Ostrom, 51, was already there.

Shouting was heard when Maldonado went inside, officials said. The arguing was loud enough to compel neighbors to call 911. Somewhere during the confrontation, Ostrom shot Maldonado.

By the time police arrived, Maldonado was dead, officials said. It was not clear if Maldonado and Shaw were dating at the time of the shooting.

—Joseph Serna