| For Immediate Release Case # 11CF0732 April 18, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
ORANGE CRIMINAL STREET GANG MEMBER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR MURDER OF RIVAL GANG MEMBER AND ASSAULT OF ANOTHER
SANTA ANA – A member of an Orange criminal street gang will be arraigned tomorrow for the murder of a rival criminal street gang member and assault of another. Adsalon Isai Montes, 18, Orange, is charged with one felony count each of murder, aggravated assault, street terrorism, and a sentencing enhancement for criminal street gang activity. If convicted on all charges, Montes faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. He is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Tuesday, April 19, 2011, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.
Co-defendant Christian Rogelio Maroquin, 18, Orange, faces the same charges and maximum sentence as Montes and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing April 29, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-57, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
At approximately 10:00 p.m., on March 11, 2011, Montes is accused of driving in Orange on Tustin Street toward Collins Avenue in a 1970 Orange Chevy Camaro with co-defendant Maroquin and two other people. Montes and Maroquin are accused of pulling over and approaching 19-year-old Noel Perez Aguilar and John Doe, and asking them where they were from. The victims gave their gang name. Montes and Maroquin are accused of getting out of the Camaro and assaulting Aguilar and John Doe. They are accused of severely beating Aguilar, who sustained skull fractures and slipped in and out of consciousness after the assault. The defendants are accused of beating John Doe, who suffered multiple lacerations to his head and face. Montes and Maroquin then fled the scene.
John Doe dragged Aguilar to a nearby Bank of America and called fellow gang members for help. Aguilar was placed in an abandoned Ford Explorer by his friends, who called 911 the following day after. Orange police officers found Aguilar dead inside the Ford Explorer.
On March 18, 2011, two Orange police officers spotted a 1970 black Chevy Camaro, driven by Montes, at an Orange gas station on Katella Avenue and stopped to investigate. As they approached the car, they smelled the odor of fresh paint and noticed that the black paint was damp to the touch. Upon closer inspection, the officers saw Orange paint on the rear wheel well and driver side door. The car matched the one involved in the beating-murder of Aguilar and Montes was arrested. A subsequent investigation by the Orange Police Department led to the arrest and arraignment of Maroquin on April 1, 2011.
Deputy District Attorney Dave Porter of the Gang Unit is prosecuting this case.
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