Alleged Pier Stabbers Plead Not Guilty

Three Burbank men pleaded not guilty to charges that they were involved in the stabbing of two fishermen at the Santa Monica Pier, authorities said.

One man, Araik Ovoian, 24, pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempted murder, said Ricardo Santiago, spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office.

The other two, Gevork Bagdasaryan, 19, and Alex Akbari, 18, each pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted murder and one count of assault with a deadly weapon.

The district attorney declined to file charges against a 21-year-old Glendale woman, Agavni Manukyan, initially arrested in connection with the crime, Santiago said.

Information on whether the 16-year-old male who was also arrested was charged in connection with the stabbing was not immediately available.

Witnesses reported seeing the suspects arguing with two fishermen, who were 43 and 30 years old, on the fishing deck at the far west end of the pier around 1:20 a.m., said Santa Monica Police Sgt. Jay Moroso.

The victims, identified as Gilberto Dorado and Antonio Castillo, were both transported to a local trauma center and were expected to survive.