3 Plead Not Guilty in O.C. Wrestler’s Death

Three defendants charged in the murder of a 17-year-old high school wrestler in Orange pleaded not guilty Friday at an arraignment in Santa Ana.

Brandan Dante Perry, 20, of Garden Grove and Veronica Paz, 21, of Orange are charged with last month’s slaying of Diego Armando Gonzalez-Sanchez, 17, a student athlete at El Modena High School.

A third defendant, Kimberly Rita Gomez, 20, is free on bail and pleaded not guilty Friday to a felony charge of being an accessory.

Gonzalez-Sanchez was shot twice in the head and set on fire in what authorities said was a botched attempt to conceal his identity.

Perry and Paz are charged with murder and could receive the death penalty, though the district attorney has not yet said whether he will seek it.

In court, Perry wore an orange jail uniform with his hair tied back.

He glanced occasionally at Paz, about 15 feet away. His only words were “Yes, sir,” when asked by the judge whether he waived his right to a speedy trial.

Perry and Paz also face one count of the special circumstances of lying in wait, prosecutor Michael Murray said.

Two other suspects, Albert Thomas Medina III, 20, of Santa Ana, and a 15-year-old, are also charged with being accessories. Medina has pleaded not guilty.

Perry, Paz and Gomez are due in court Jan. 16 for a pretrial hearing.