Two L.A. County deputies to stand trial for brawl in San Diego

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A San Diego judge Wednesday ordered two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies to stand trial on felony charges linked to an off-duty brawl in the downtown Gaslamp entertainment zone.

A Superior Court judge ruled there is sufficient evidence to require Miguel Antonio Aguilar, 29, and Derek Robin Vonkleist, 28, to stand trial on assault and battery charges. Both charges involve force sufficient to inflict great bodily harm.

The two were arrested shortly after midnight Dec. 7 and booked into San Diego County jail.

Aguilar has been with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department for five years, Vonkleist for four, and both were assigned to the downtown jail. Each is free on $35,000 bail.

Under the L.A. department’s policy, both were suspended with pay after being arrested. Once they were arraigned on felony charges, that shifted to suspended without pay.

The one charge that the judge declined to order be taken to trial was a misdemeanor petty theft charge against Vonkleist for allegedly stealing a skateboard from a witness. After a preliminary hearing, he ruled there was not sufficient evidence that Vonkleist meant to keep the skateboard.

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-- Tony Perry in San Diego