Man Denies Charges in Laguna Case

An 18-year-old San Clemente High School student pleaded not guilty Thursday in Municipal Court here to charges that he beat up and attempted to kill a man during an alleged gay-bashing.

Jeff Michael Raines also pleaded not guilty to inflicting great bodily injury and committing a hate crime. He is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing Feb. 2.

Raines was one of three young men arrested Jan. 9 in connection with the beating of Loc Minh Truong, 55, of Costa Mesa. Police said the victim was targeted because the suspects thought he was gay and because he was alone on a stretch of beach behind several gay bars in Laguna Beach.

The youngest of the three suspects in the case--a 16-year-old San Clemente youth who drove his friends to the scene--will not be charged, Deputy Dist. Atty. Craig McKinnon said Thursday. He apparently violated curfew in the city of Laguna Beach, but beyond that there is not enough evidence against him, McKinnon said.

Truong is still at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo where he is listed in fair condition. He is scheduled to undergo surgery to his badly damaged face this week, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Also arrested in connection with the beating was Christopher Michael Cribbins, 22, of San Clemente, who is free on $10,000 bail. He is to return to court Feb. 9 for arraignment on charges in connection with the beating, prosecutors said.