Charges upgraded for man accused of nightclub attack

The charges against a Huntington Beach man who allegedly punched another man at a nightclub and caused his death were upgraded Friday to involuntary manslaughter, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.

Oscar Raul Medina-Perez now faces one felony count of involuntary manslaughter and one felony count of battery with serious injury. Medina-Perez, 24, faces a maximum sentence of eight years in state prison if convicted, prosecutors said.

He was arraigned Friday and pleaded not guilty to both charges, according to prosecutors. Medina-Perez is in custody and not eligible to post his $250,000 bail because he’s under hold by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. His pretrial is scheduled Monday.

Medina-Perez allegedly got into a verbal altercation with Leovardo Vera Bustos on July 5 at La Barca Night Club in Stanton. A security guard stood between the two men, but Medina-Perez managed to throw a punch at Bustos, prosecutors said.

Bustos fell to the ground, losing consciousness. He was found in bed unconscious the next morning with blood coming from his nose. He was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange. Bustos, 24, died about two weeks later after he was taken off life support, prosecutors said.