A 27-year-old transient was convicted Tuesday of attacking a trolley driver in Laguna Beach when he was told he was not welcome to ride on the bus.
Daniel William Delrosario was convicted of robbery and dissuading a witness by force, both felonies, and a misdemeanor count of battery on a transportation worker. He was acquitted of assault on a peace officer, a misdemeanor, and resisting arrest, a felony, according to court records.
Sentencing was scheduled for April 24.
Co-defendant Robert Peralta pleaded guilty Nov. 1 to misdemeanor battery and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and ordered to take part in self-help meetings.
Delrosario attempted to board the trolley last Sept. 21 but was refused because the driver said he was too intoxicated, Laguna Beach police Sgt. Jim Cota said. That upset the defendant, who started hollering at the driver, the sergeant said.
Delrosario got on the trolley and punched the driver several times in his face and chest, Cota said. During the pummeling, the driver activated an emergency button to summon police help, Cota said.
A passenger on the trolley attempted to pull the defendant off the driver, which apparently upset Peralta, who attacked the good Samaritan, Cota said. Both homeless men got off the trolley and ran away, but were later arrested, he said.
The driver was taken to Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach for treatment of pain, Cota said.
Delrosario pleaded guilty to a felony count of battery with serious bodily injury in September 2017, as well as misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and assault on a peace officer. He was sentenced to 261 days in jail and was placed on three years of formal probation in that case.