Full Notification

Just prior to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21, Costa Mesa Police and Fire-Rescue personnel responded to the area of Presidio Drive and Presidio Square regarding a report of an assault victim with injuries. Passersby had called 911 after coming across a female adult staggering from the area of Presidio Square. The female victim was described as having injuries to her face and bleeding from her mouth.

Arriving officers contacted the victim and she was able to relate that she had been assaulted by three other subjects. Officers were able to determine that the assault had occurred on the campus grounds of Coastline R.O.P. in the 1000 block of Presidio Square. The victim, a 20-year-old female, was treated at the scene by Costa Mesa Fire personnel and transported to Western Medical Center, Santa Ana. She was treated and admitted for observation for injuries including a broken jaw, broken tooth, a laceration to her lip, as well as contusions and abrasions to her face and head.

The victim was able to tell officers that her assailants were known to her and were involved with a Costa Mesa street gang. The victim was also found to have an affiliation to another Costa Mesa street gang. The victim and suspects, later identified as Stephanie Martinez, Luis Astudillo and Jose Leyva, had all been at the Coastline R.O.P. campus property drinking when an altercation broke out between the victim and suspect Martinez. The victim was then assaulted by all three subjects, who fled the location leaving the victim behind. At some point during the assault, the victim was struck in the face with what is believed to be a beer bottle.

At approximately 11:00 p.m., officers responded to investigate a reported hit and run collision that had occurred in the area of Victoria Street and Canyon Drive. A license plate for a possible suspect vehicle, a 2005 Nissan four-door sedan, was broadcast to officers in the area. Shortly thereafter a matching vehicle was stopped by officers in the area of Placentia Avenue and W. Wilson Street. The driver was identified as Stephanie Martinez. Also occupying the vehicle were Luis Astudillo and Jose Leyva. From information previously provided by the officers investigating the assault at Presidio Square, the officers detaining the subjects in the suspected hit and run vehicle believe those subjects to be involved in the assault.

Based upon the totality of the investigation, victim statements and additional evidence obtained, Martinez, Astudillo and Leyva were all arrested for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Martinez was additionally arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence as a result of the traffic stop on the vehicle she was driving. Aspects of the hit and run collision are currently under investigation and could result in additional charges.

All three subjects were transported and booked into the Costa Mesa Jail and later transported to the Orange County Jail.

With regard to the felony assault, the three subjects were arrested for the following violations:

Stephanie Martinez Assault with a Deadly Weapon (bail: $25,000)
Unrelated outstanding arrest warrant (No Bail)

Luis Astudillo Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Battery with Serious Injury (bail: $25,000)
Probation Violation Hold (No Bail)

Jose Leyva Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Battery with Serious Injury (bail: $25,000)


Aspects of this investigation are ongoing through the Costa Mesa Police Department Investigations Bureau. No additional information is being released. No booking photos of the subjects arrested are being released at this time.

Any persons with information pertaining to this incident are encouraged to call the Investigations Bureau at: (714) 754-5205.