Crime & Safety

RSM Men Plead Not Guilty for Hate Crime Mugging, Beating

Matthew Branstetter and Nolan Wickham are accused of beating an unidentified victim. A third suspect remains at large.

Two 19-year-old men accused of yelling anti-Semitic slurs while mugging and beating a man in a Coto de Caza park pleaded not guilty on Friday while a third suspect was at large.

Matthew Gregory Branstetter and Nolan John Wickham, both from Rancho Santa Margarita, along with a third man, are accused of accosting a 23-year-old man in a youth sports park at Via Pajaro and Vista del Verde about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

They were charged with one felony count each of aggravated assault and second-degree robbery with sentencing enhancement allegations of committing a hate crime with others and causing great bodily injury.

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They will next be in court on April 18. They are being held on $75,000 bail.

According to the Orange County district attorney, the three men approached the victim, who recognized one of his attackers, while he was sitting alone at a picnic table. The three men demanded money but the victim—known as John Doe—said he had nothing to give them; they then allegedly yelled anti-Semitic slurs and repeatedly kicked and punched him.  Sheriff spokesman Jim Amormino said John Doe was hit from behind in the head with an unknown object—possibly a tree branch.

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Prosecutors accuse the attackers of stealing a jacket and cell phone before fleeing the scene.

John Doe drifted in and out of consciousness throughout the attack and awoke after the defendants had left. He managed to reach his home. His father then called 911, and the victim was taken to Mission Hospital where it was determined that he had a concussion, broken jaw, eye socket fracture, broken nose, cracked ribs, severe facial bruising, and cuts and bruises to his body and face.

The victim underwent surgery and is expected to recover from his injuries.

Branstetter and Wickham were arrested that night by Orange County Sheriff's deputies.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact supervising district attorney Anthony Sosnowski at (714) 347-8814 or OCSD investigator Tim Horner at (949) 425-1938.

Senior deputy district attorney John Christi of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.


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