Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Los Angeles, California and the U.S.

March 26, 2007

Women Charged in Altadena Murder; Child Abduction

PASADENA – Two women have been charged with murdering an Altadena man on Sunday, then fleeing with the 4-year-old son of one. Both were arrested in Las Vegas two days later with the boy.

Extradition requests for the pair were issued by the District Attorney’s Family Violence Division yesterday. If the women waive extradition, they could be returned to Los Angeles County as early as next week.

Mesha Arshaz Dean (dob 5-2-1984), and Vanessa Marie Ochoa (dob 10-6-1984), both 22, were charged yesterday in case No. GA062947 with one count of murder and one count of child abuse. The complaint alleged that Dean used a handgun to fatally shoot Monroe M. on March 18. The complaint also alleged handgun use in the child abuse charge.

Bail of slightly more than $2 million was recommended for Dean. Bail of slightly more than $1 million was recommended for Ochoa. If convicted, the women face prison terms of life with the possibility of parole.

The victim, authorities said, was the uncle of the child, Manaen M. The child and his father had left Las Vegas and were staying in Los Angeles County. The shooting occurred early Sunday afternoon at the Altadena home of the uncle and the child’s grandparents.

Sheriff’s deputies said the women and the boy were spotted by Las Vegas Metro police in a vehicle that had been described in a statewide Amber Alert issued after the child was taken.

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CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER

JOSEPH SHEMARIA

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Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Los Angeles, California and the U.S.