LONG BEACH, Calif. — A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge denied an accused man’s request for release on his own recognizance Tuesday, Oct. 27, despite defense arguments that he acted in self-defense after being attacked outside his residence.
During the felony arraignment, Deputy Public Defender Wayne Robert Suzukawa argued that the accused had no prior criminal history, was employed and was the primary provider for his family. However, the prosecution opposed release, arguing that the accused posed a potential threat to public safety.
Judge Alfred A. Coletta outlined the felony charge stemming from an altercation in which the accused allegedly stabbed the complaining witness in the abdomen, causing a laceration that required hospitalization.
Suzukawa told the court that the accused had no criminal history before the incident and was employed as a receptionist at an organization providing assistance to unhoused individuals in downtown Los Angeles.
He added that the accused’s wife was present in the courtroom gallery with their 4-year-old daughter, who is on the autism spectrum, and emphasized that the accused was the primary financial provider for the household.
Describing the circumstances of the altercation, Suzukawa argued that the complaining witness had charged at the accused outside his residence, punched him and knocked him to the ground.
Suzukawa maintained that the complaining witness was significantly larger than the accused and that the accused used a knife to defend himself during the attack.
Based on those circumstances, Suzukawa requested that the accused be released on his own recognizance, arguing that his actions were taken in self-defense rather than as an unprovoked assault.
The deputy district attorney challenged the defense’s account, questioning why the accused had been carrying a knife and how he was able to produce it during the confrontation.
The prosecution argued that a reasonable person would not ordinarily carry a knife, suggesting that the accused’s possession of the weapon raised concerns about his intentions and the potential danger he posed to the public.
Coletta acknowledged the circumstances described by the defense, including the allegation that the accused had been attacked outside his home.
Nevertheless, the judge denied Suzukawa’s request for release on his own recognizance, citing public safety concerns.
Coletta set bail at $15,000, taking into consideration the defense’s account of the altercation and the accused’s claim of self-defense.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Nov. 2, 2026.
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