Second suspect in murder case

A second suspect has been arrested in the bludgeoning murder of Damon Nicholson, who was found dead in his Laguna Beach home on Oct. 23.

Jacob Quintanilla, 20, of Lake Forest, was taken into custody on suspicion of murder Friday, Dec. 4, Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jason Kravetz said.

Investigators believe that Quintanilla accompanied suspect Matthew Dragna to the victim’s house and that Quintanilla was present while Dragna allegedly beat the victim to death with a baseball bat.

The motive for the homicide was robbery. After the victim was attacked, the two men proceeded to steal many items from the residence, Kravetz said.

Items from the Nicholson home were found at Dragna’s Lake Forest residence, according to police.

Quintanilla is being held in Orange County Jail on $1 million bail, according to jail records. Dragna is being held without bail.