Six teen-agers have denied felony assault charges they beat up a 16-year-old boy at a Chula Vista taco shop on April 11.
Four teen-agers between the ages of 15-17 appeared in Juvenile Court in Kearny Mesa on Monday involving the publicized assault of Paul Martin, who was seen on the floor while all six teen-agers were kicking him.
Two others, Aldrin Uy, 19, and Kent Bernard Pasunting, 18, were arraigned in Chula Vista Superior Court on April 19.
Someone began recording the beating of Paul with a cellphone camera in which one teen-ager hits Paul with a chair and the others violently kick him. This video has been shown repeatedly on local television newscasts.
The motive for this incident stems from Martin defending another teen-ager who was being bullied on Snapchat.
The incident took place at the Cotixan Mexican Restaurant in Chula Vista.
The store put up a large sign afterwards that said “Cotixan Chula Vista and its employees strongly condemn the actions happened here on Thursday, April 11.”
“We wish the Martin-Cruz family the best in these bad times and we offer our unconditional assistance to the family and police in any way we can,” the sign also read.
Paul and others appeared at an anti-bullying rally and he spoke about the incident.
“They were jumping on my head. They were stomping on it. They had cleats on,” he said, adding the cleat marks made lacerations on his face.
“It was horrifying. I thought I was going to be dead any second,” Paul said at the rally.
“I hope that we can take all this, a bad situation, and turn it into something better for this community,” Paul said. “Put an end to violence.”
The juveniles will return to court on May 1, and the adults are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 1.
Uy and Pasunting remain in jail on $100,000 bail, and the minors remain in Juvenile Hall.
