2 Men Enter Not Guilty Pleas in Beach Shootout : Courts: Police say the alleged gang members are rivals in Santa Paula. They are accused of firing at each other on shore near Ventura Harbor’s south jetty.

Two alleged gang members from Santa Paula pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that they sprayed gunfire at each other across a crowded Ventura beach.

Alejandro Garcia, 19, was charged in Ventura County Municipal Court with assault with a deadly weapon, reckless discharge of a firearm, possession of a concealed weapon and shooting from a vehicle.

During the same arraignment, Ramiro E. Montano, 20, was charged with felony reckless discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a concealed weapon.

Garcia and Montano belong to rival gangs, police said, and in court they were seated at opposite ends of the defendants’ box.

After their arrest Thursday, both Garcia and Montano were being held in Ventura County Jail on $5,000 bail. But on Monday, Municipal Judge Bruce A. Clark increased the bail to $100,000 for Garcia and $50,000 for Montano.

Clark assigned the public defender’s office to represent Garcia, and another court-appointed attorney will defend Montano. Neither defense attorney objected to the increased bail, and outside court they said they did not know enough about the case to comment.

Both Garcia and Montano are scheduled for preliminary hearings Aug. 19.

The shootout occurred Thursday morning in the midst of hundreds of sunbathers near Ventura Harbor’s south jetty. During the confrontation, two groups fired shots at each other from about 100 yards apart, Deputy Dist. Atty. Kim G. Gibbons said.

He said it was “very fortunate” that no one was injured.

The incident was not unusual behavior for gang members, Gibbons said, but it was remarkable because it took place on a crowded public beach.

“I just think it’s a sign that gang activity is becoming more violent, if not more prevalent,” Gibbons said outside court.

Although investigators believe the shooting was unplanned and followed a chance encounter, Gibbons noted that members of both groups were prepared for violence.

“At least one person in each group had a gun with them and was ready,” he said.

According to police and witnesses, the shooting began after Garcia and several friends pulled into a parking lot at the beach to go fishing. When they spotted three members of a rival gang--including Montano--Garcia put down his fishing pole and allegedly fired several rounds from a .44-caliber revolver.

One of the alleged gang members on the beach returned fire with a 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol while running south on the beach. Garcia’s group then piled into their Chevy Blazer and drove away. As they were leaving, someone inside the vehicle fired several more shots at the group on the beach.

Two 17-year-old youths allegedly involved in the shooting are scheduled to be arraigned today in Juvenile Court. One will be charged with felony reckless discharge and possession of a concealed weapon, prosecutors said. The other will be charged with aiding and abetting in the reckless discharge of a weapon and aiding in an assault with a deadly weapon, they said.

Senior Deputy Dist. Atty. Gregory D. Totten said prosecutors plan to ask that the juvenile facing the reckless discharge allegation be tried as an adult. The request will be made, he said, because of the seriousness of the crime and his “sophistication and participation in a criminal street gang.”

Criminal charges have not been filed against two others who were arrested in connection with the shootout. Prosecutors said they do not have enough evidence to charge John Anthony Sosa, 20, or Fernando Enrique Calderon, 19.

During the arraignment, Garcia was described as an unemployed Santa Paula resident who is not on probation or parole. Montano was described as a longtime Ventura County resident who is on probation for carrying a concealed weapon in Los Angeles. A probation official also said Montano had failed to appear for past court dates.

If Garcia is convicted on all charges, he could face up to nine years in state prison. Montano could face up to three years.