Parolee charged with murder and burning victim’s car in fatal Costa Mesa stabbing

Murder and arson charges were filed Thursday against a known gang member accused of stabbing a man to death in Costa Mesa and burning his car.

John Breceda, 36, of Santa Ana was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, but the hearing was postponed until July 17, according to court records.

Authorities allege that Breceda killed Floriberto Villasenor Cortes, 44, of Santa Ana on May 30.

Police contend the two were in a car on Peppertree Lane when Breceda attacked Villasenor Cortes with a knife. Authorities did not indicate what led to the stabbing.

Villasenor Cortes tried to run but collapsed on a nearby lawn and later died at a hospital, authorities said.

Police say Breceda drove off in Villasenor Cortes’ car, which was found the next day abandoned and burning in a field near the 5 Freeway and Junipero Serra Road in San Juan Capistrano.

A 50-year-old Santa Ana woman is accused of participating in burning the car and being an accessory to murder after the fact. Marcela Raye Gomez-Lee is scheduled to be arraigned on the two felony charges July 17.

She and Breceda are in Orange County Jail with bail set at $1 million each.

Breceda has a lengthy criminal history, including arrests or convictions involving robbery, carjacking and assault on a police officer, according to court records.

He was on parole from state prison and under supervision of local probation officials at the time Villasenor Cortes was killed, court documents state.

Breceda was already in jail on allegations of violating terms of his probation when Costa Mesa police arrested him Tuesday on suspicion of the stabbing.