Coachella man accused of choking, threatening woman pleads not guilty
A Coachella man who allegedly choked and threatened to kill a woman for reporting him to police pleaded not guilty to assault and other felony charges.
Orlando Ortega, 48, is accused of attacking the victim on Feb. 17, 2016, soon after he was released from the Indio jail for unspecified crimes.
He had been renting a room from the woman for about three months, according to an arrest warrant declaration. He allegedly returned to the home upon his release, and began screaming at the victim for “having him arrested, grabbed her by the arms and shook her.” He then allegedly choked her while screaming “If you don’t drop the charges, I will (expletive) kill you!,” according to the declaration.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to the home the following day, where the woman was found with visible injuries to her arms, but no marks on her neck, according to the document.
Ortega, who is charged with assault, making criminal threats, dissuading a witness and vehicle theft, is being held on $25,000 bail and is slated to return to court Feb. 1 for a felony settlement conference.
