2 charged after Costa Mesa stabbing plead not guilty

Two defendants arrested in connection with a possibly gang-related stabbing in Costa Mesa pleaded not guilty to felony charges Thursday.

Carlos Alfredo Ortega and Raul Munoz were arrested Dec. 16. According to police, Ortega and a 17-year-old boy claimed they were part of a gang, provoked a fight with two men and stabbed one of them, causing a superficial injury.

When the other men were talking to a police officer afterward, Munoz, who was not in the fight, allegedly warned them in Spanish that “they would see what happens” if they talked to police.

Ortega is facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of criminal threats.

Munoz is charged with one felony count of threatening a witness.

Police also arrested the 17-year-old, but authorities did not release details because he is a minor.

All three are from Costa Mesa.

Ortega was on probation at the time of the fight, according to court records.

Last December, he pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to appear in court. In April, he pleaded guilty to public intoxication and another charge of failure to appear.

Ortega is in Orange County Jail with bail set at $25,000, police said.

Munoz posted $20,000 bond and was released Sunday, according to Orange County Sheriff’s Department records.

Their next court date is Dec. 29.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck