Brothers Plead Not Guilty to Punching Elderly Woman at Bus Stop

Two brothers pleaded not guilty on Friday to attacking an 83-year-old woman at a local bus stop, court records show.

Paul Grigore Patrulescu, 30, and Ciprian Patrulescu, 31, both of Costa Mesa, are each facing one felony count of inflicting injury on an elder adult. If convicted, the brothers face a maximum sentence of four years in state prison. The men remain out of custody on $50,000 bail, according to court records.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Oct. 11 at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.

According to the Orange County district attorney's office, the brothers approached an 83-year-old woman at a bus bench on Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa and asked her to go eat at a restaurant with them on the night of Aug. 18. The victim refused their offer and began to scream for help. The brothers are accused of then punching her twice in the face and fleeing the scene on foot, prosecutors said.

A witness driving by saw the attack and called the Costa Mesa Police Department. Officers found the victim lying on the bus bench, bleeding above her left eye with cuts to her nose and face.

Police found the brothers nearby and arrested them in Costa Mesa.