Deputies break up alleged fist fight inside courtroom

Four men who police say brawled two days ago inside a Newport Beach courtroom are scheduled to be back in the courtroom today, this time in shackles.

Julio Ocampo, 18, Luis Ocampo, 19, Alexander Calixto, 19, and Victor Garcia, 19, are set to be arraigned at the Harbor Justice Center after Orange County Sheriff’s deputies arrested them for allegedly fighting when they recognized each other as rival Costa Mesa gang members. Three of them were in court on other cases and free on bail.

While the men waited to appear before the judge, a female friend of one of the men began “talking trash,” said Costa Mesa Lt. Clay Epperson, who runs Costa Mesa’s gang unit.

The men soon confronted each other and it quickly turned physical, police said. Sheriff’s deputies and some parents broke up the fight.

Costa Mesa gang officers interviewed the men later, Epperson said. If the men are arrested in future incidents, this fight may play a role in their cases, he said.

All four are in custody at Orange County Jail. Calixto and Garcia are being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. Julio Ocampo is being held in lieu of $130,000 bail, and Luis Ocampo is being held on $180,000 bail.

— Joseph Serna