Fountain Valley|News|
Defense Rests in Murder-for-Hire Trial
Under cross-examination, accused hit man Antonio Ortega admits he never told police about the nosebleed he described in his earlier testimony.

<strong>E-Mail: justin.petruccelli@patch.com</strong><br><strong>Phone: 714-642-0190</strong><br><strong>Birthday: April 10</strong>
After 20 years in Southern California, Justin spent eight years in Arkansas, where he received a bachelor's degree in print journalism from the University of Central Arkansas and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he served as executive editor of the UALR Trojan. It's also in Arkansas where Justin developed his love for community news.
Justin moved to Orange County in 2006, and spent nearly three years as a senior editor for Entrepreneur Magazine's website before coming to Patch.
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<b>Local Hot-Button Issues</b>: Feral cats; coyotes (which apprently enjoy eating the feral cats); the relatively stable economy and real estate market.
Under cross-examination, accused hit man Antonio Ortega admits he never told police about the nosebleed he described in his earlier testimony.

Antonio Ortega takes the stand in his own defense Wednesday, also claiming he suffered a nosebleed near the scene of the attack the night before it occurred.
A consultant was also hired for the project
Blood found at the scene of the 2009 attack on Rick Sharpski matches two samples taken from Antonio Ortega.
DNA evidence against Antonio Ortega was also introduced in the attempted-murder trial of Ortega, Mary Sharpski and Michael Shores.
Vehicle burglaries topped the list of police calls.
Marlene Quiroz's self-portrait will be displayed in the Capitol's Cannon Tunnel for the next year.
April Bivens also testified that Antonio Ortega had talked about the 2009 machete attack of Rick Sharpski a year before it took place, and she implicated co-defendant Michael Shores in its planning.
Confined to a motorized wheelchair and wearing a glove to cover his missing fingers, Rick Sharpski identifies one of the defendants, Antonio Ortega, as his attacker in the trial of Ortega and Fountain Valley residents Mary Sharpski and Michael Shores.
Criteria will now be established to determine which school would be closed.
Lawyers for Mary Sharpski and Michael Shores of Fountain Valley, and Antonio Ortega of Santa Ana are taking distinct tacks in defense of their clients, who are accused of plotting to kill Sharpski's husband.
The 19-member committee will review additional information and decide if it is ready to make a recommendation to the school board.
Doctors order further testing for Michael Shores of Fountain Valley, who, along with Mary Sharpski of Fountain Valley and Antonio Ortega of Santa Ana, is accused of plotting to kill Sharpski's husband in 2009.
Students, volunteers also honored at meeting.
Thirty percent of Fountain Valley city employees have city-issued cell phones; Brown is seeking a reduction to 20 percent at the state level.
Antonio Ortega of Santa Ana is accused of trying to kill the husband of Fountain Valley resident Mary Sharpski with a machete as part of a plot orchestrated by Sharpski and her boyfriend.
Mark Keller, 26, died after his car slammed into a roadside barrier.
City will pay about $85 an hour for part-time services.
Firefighters, other city employee groups to meet with city manager.
Ocean View Facilities planner: Problem is purely clerical.