Friend’s murder charges dropped

Prosecutors dropped charges against an Illinois man implicated in a 2006 Costa Mesa drive-by shooting Friday, days after he testified against the man convicted as the killer.

Anthony Dispensa, 23, faced murder charges for allegedly participating in an Aug. 2, 2006 drive-by shooting in an alley in the 1300 block of Baker Street, where 23-year-old Israel Maciel was killed and his four friends were wounded.

Dispensa testified against his former friend Joshua Blount last week in Blount’s murder trial for the same incident and identified him as the sole shooter.

Blount was convicted of first-degree murder and four counts of attempted murder Tuesday and faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. He will be sentenced in July.

Blount’s attorney, Barry Bernstein, told jurors Dispensa was the shooter and accused Dispensa of cutting a deal with prosecutors in exchange for testifying against his client.

When told that Dispensa’s charges were dropped, Bernstein’s only comment was a sarcastic, “What a surprise.”

“As we moved forward with the case and the investigation we did not see it fit to charge Mr. Dispensa with murder,” said Farrah Emami, a District Attorney spokeswoman. “We feel Mr. Blount was singularly responsible for Mr. Maciel’s death.”

Dispensa testified in Blount’s trial that he believed he was risking his life by testifying against Blount and hoped for leniency from prosecutors even though none was explicitly promised.

“I shouldn’t have anything to do with this. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Dispensa testified during the trial. “I shouldn’t be charged with murder.”

Dispensa told jurors during Blount’s trial that he rode along with Blount but didn’t know Blount had a gun. He testified that he thought they were there to fight Maciel and his friends.

“I was going to get out of the car, then just started hearing shots. I thought those guys were shooting at us,” Dispensa testified. “I was just in shock.” After the shooting Dispensa, Blount and a third man went to Tustin and then booked a motel room in Los Angeles for the night. Within days, Dispensa was driving back to Illinois. Bernstein argued it was to hide from police.

“I had never been in something like this. I didn’t want to get in trouble,” Dispensa said. “I never shot a gun in my life, let alone shoot anybody.”

Dispensa was arrested in October 2006 and had been in custody ever since. Orange County Sheriff’s Department records showed Dispensa was not in their custody Friday evening.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.