Trial Begins For Pair Accused In Huntington Beach Stabbing

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Insults turned to injury when two Chicago cops, along with a married couple from the Chicago suburbs, taunted and then attacked two men in Huntington Beach in February of 2016. Now, that case has gone to court. Arthur Edward Roman, 30, of Tinley Park, and his sister-in-law, Jessica Monique Moran, 30, of Lake Forest, Illinois are on trial on charges of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, a felony, and a misdemeanor count of battery.

Prosecutors told jurors on Wednesday that one victim was stabbed twice by the wife, however the defense attorney claimed she took "defensive actions" in the scrum.

Roman's brother, Martin Mario Roman, 28, of Lake Forest, Illinois pleaded guilty Aug. 25 to felony assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon and misdemeanor battery, according to court records. He was placed on three years of formal probation and ordered to participate in a program overseen by a special court for veterans.

Martin Roman's plea deal came over the objections of prosecutors, according to court records.

The attack happened about 4:15 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2016, as Karam Aljarrah and Aseem Dghem were walking down Third Street in Huntington Beach. At a preliminary hearing for the three accused in the attack, Huntington Beach Officer Eric Esparza testified that Arthur Roman started the conflict when he insulted a "straw hat" that one of the victims was wearing as "stupid."

The Romans were in a red Volkswagen Jetta parked near a 24-Hour Fitness gym at the time.The victims were not immediately aware they were the target of the jeers, Deputy District Attorney Angela Hong said. But "the shouting continued," and one of the men replied, "Excuse me, are you talking to us?" Hong said.

That apparently "aggravated" Arthur Roman, who got out of the car to confront the two men, Hong said. Then, "his brother Martin had to get out (of the car), and then Martin's wife, Jessica, had to get out," Hong said.

Arthur Roman, who is a police officer in south suburban Chicago's Oak Forest, pushed one of the men, Hong said.

Dghem pushed back, escalating the fight with Jessica Roman pushing Dghem down, Hong said.

"Arthur then turned his attention to Karam, who is in a fetal position, trying to protect himself," Hong said.
A witness riding by on a bicycle is expected to testify she heard the shouting and then saw the "Romans get out of the car and it was on," Hong said.

Jessica Roman is accused of kicking Aljarrah twice in the head, Hong said.

Martin Roman whipped out a switchblade and stabbed Aljarrah in the buttocks twice, Hong said.

A witness took a photo of the Jetta's license plate, allowing police to quickly catch up with the three about a half-mile away, Hong said. Jessica Roman apparently got out of the car after the trio drove away and was arrested on foot nearby, she added.

Arthur Roman's attorney, Christopher Glew, reserved his right to make an opening statement later in the trial.

Jessica Roman's attorney, Stephen Miller, told jurors it was not a "whodunnit" case, but said they will hear "conflicting accounts" of what happened.

Miller said his client told her husband and his brother "don't fight" as they got out of the car.

After the three left the scene of the conflict, Jessica Roman got out of the car to call the friends they had planned to meet that day and she returned to the crime scene to tend to her husband who was injured in the melee, Miller said.

Miller said Jessica Roman tried to stop the fight.

"The evidence is going to show there were defensive actions taken by Jessica," Miller said.

City News Service; Ashley Ludwig, Patch Editor, contributed to this report.

Photos: Jessica Roman, Orange County District Attorney's Office