Alleged paintballers plead not guilty

Three Bellarmine-Jefferson High School students on Friday pleaded not guilty to felony charges related to a series of paintball attacks last month on passersby in Burbank.

Eric Marcson Lopez — previously identified as Eric Monson — of Tujunga, Kevin Yuenyongsakul of Los Angeles, and Julian Stephens of Studio City, all 18, were charged in Los Angeles Superior Court with multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

Lopez — a senior captain on the Bellarmine-Jefferson football team this past season — faces 12 counts related to the 13 paintball attacks, which over the course of several days included a girl on a bike, seniors and a 16-year-old boy. Paintballs also hit and defaced buildings.

Stephens, with two felony charges in the court complaint, was out on bail for a drug possession charge when the 18-year-olds were arrested on Feb. 2 in connection with the paintball hits, and so will face an additional charge for the alleged felonies.

The district attorney charged Yuenyongsukal with five counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

Two 17-year-olds were also arrested by Burbank police, but their names have not been released because they are minors. It was not immediately known whether they would face any charges.

Stephens, Yuenyongsukal and Lopez each posted $60,000 bail, while the two juveniles were released into the custody of their parents.

Superior Court Judge Patrick A. Hegarty on Friday ordered the students back in court on March 22 to schedule a preliminary hearing, where the county district attorney’s office could offer the trio plea deals.

“The worst that can happen is you don’t like the offer,” Hegarty said. “Not sure we can settle this type of case, but it’s definitely worth a discussion.”

In the meantime, Hegarty also required the students to meet with their probation officers.