Tombleson Faces Second Murder Charge

As expected, the death of Hossain Saidian last week prompted the district attorney on Thursday to file a second murder charge against Justin Alvin Maseo Tombleson.

Tombleson, 28, is accused of inflicting lethal knife wounds to Mission Viejo residents Elvis Kechechian and Saidian in a fight outside a Lake Forest restaurant June 11.

Tombleson surrendered June 13 and was charged with murder in the death of Kechechian, but three days after that, .

The second felony murder charge was added Thursday morning during Tombleson's arraignment in Santa Ana at the Central Justice Center.

Tombleson, who has retained George Vincent Vargas as an attorney, has pleaded not guilty and .

Tombleson, of Lake Forest, also faces sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a deadly weapon, causing great bodily injury, and a 2005 strike conviction for assault causing great bodily injury. If convicted, he  could face up to 70 years to life in state prison.

He is being held on $1 million bail. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for June 27 in the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

According to the district attorney, on June 11, Kechechian, 26, and Saidian, 32, were at the Albatros Mexican restaurant in Lake Forest about 2 a.m., with two other men, including Kechechian's brother, Aris. 

Aris Kechechian became involved in a verbal altercation and spit on a woman, authorities say. The verbal altercation escalated, and the woman and her friends, as well as the Kechechians and their friends, were asked by the restaurant owner to leave. The woman called her boyfriend, Tombleson.

Upon arriving, authorities say, Tombleson confronted the victims in the parking lot near the victims' car. A physical fight broke out between the defendant's and victims' groups. Tombleson is accused of pulling a knife from his pocket.

Tombleson is accused of stabbing Kechechian one time in the chest, perforating his heart. He is accused of stabbing Saidian in the chest and arm. Both victims were transported to the hospital, and Kechechian was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. Saidian remained in critical condition until June 16, when he died.   

Tombleson is accused of fleeing the scene with his friends. The Orange County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene and is investigating the case.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Randy Litwin at 714-347-8492 or the Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at 714-647-7055.

More than 900 people attended , a personal trainer who also was the strength and conditioning coach for the Santa Margarita Catholic High ice hockey team.

Saidian's funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. at the same location, the Refinery at in Lake Forest, with burial at El Toro Memorial Cemetery.