Santa Ana man facing a felony charge for possession of illegal fireworks

A Santa Ana man, Kevin Benley Ocampo, 22-years-old, was charged on Wednesday with possessing hundreds of pounds of fireworks in Costa Mesa. 19-year-old Jeremy Mendoza of Garden Grove was also charged.

Costa Mesa police officers arrested Ocampo and Mendoza on June 30 and confiscated 674 pounds of illegal fireworks that were in their possession.

Both men were charged with a felony count of possession of dangerous fireworks in excess of 100 pounds as well as a misdemeanor count of sale and transfer of dangerous fireworks to an unauthorized person.

Ocampo pleaded not guilty Wednesday at his hearing in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana and he is due in court again July 14 in the West Justice Center in Westminster. Ocampo’s bail was set at $7,500.

Mendoza, 19, of Garden Grove was scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 21 at the West Justice Center in Westminster.

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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