2 Plead Guilty in Attack on Migrant

Two men pleaded guilty Wednesday to assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the shaving of the head of an illegal migrant.

Ramiro Varcenas Monticinas, 30, and Gerardo Perez Ortiz, 22, entered their pleas during their preliminary hearing on charges they assaulted and robbed Javier Garcia Robles, 20, of Juarez, Mexico.

Sentencing was set for Oct. 31 by San Diego Municipal Judge Nicholas Kasimatis.

Ortiz’s attorney, Kerry Steigerwalt, said neither defendant is believed responsible for a series of head-shavings of illegal aliens in the last month.

Robles escaped from a drop house on Sept. 20 where he had been taken after being smuggled into the United States. His hair was shaved with barber’s shears, he testified Tuesday, and his pants torn up before he was able to escape and call police.

Robles said that Monticinas threatened him at knifepoint because he thought Robles owed him money.

Steigerwalt said those responsible for the other head shavings had fled the drop house at 42nd and Market streets when police arrived.

Consequently, both Ortiz and Monticinas have been guaranteed that their sentencing will include time already served in county jail and then they will be released on probation, said the defense attorney.

The prosecutor could not be reached for comment Wednesday.