Actor Johnny Ortiz faces charges of premeditated murder.
McFarland, USA and El Camino actor A Breaking Bad Movie and his co-defendant Armando Miguel Navarro are accused of attempting to kill Brian Duke “for the benefit, direction and in a settlement with a street gang of criminals with the express intention of announcing, advertising and assisting in the corrupt conduct of gang members,” according to a police-reviewed crime complaint through PEOPLE.
The complaint alleges that Navarro, 18, was the one who dropped Duke’s case on May 24. Ortiz’s role in the alleged crime is unclear. Navarro has recently been held at the North County Correctional Center on $2.01 million bail.
The 24-year-old actor is being held at Los Angeles Central Men’s Prison on $1.12 million bail. His circle of relatives raises cash through GoFundMe while proclaiming that he is not to blame for the fees that are opposed to him.
“We need our beloved member of the family circle to come back to us,” Says Ortiz’s GoFundMe page. “He is a brother, a son and a friend of our circle of relatives. We have lost our dear mother to cancer and the loss of some other member of the circle of relatives breaks our hearts. Please help us pay Johnny Bail Bond to get him out. . “
Ortiz and Navarro pleaded not to blame a court appearance Monday morning in downtown Los Angeles. They are scheduled to return to court for an initial hearing on September 22. If Ortiz is found to be the culprit, he faces 25 years in prison for life.
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