No change of venue for Ortega on Owatonna

MANTORVILLE — The trial for a man charged with last year’s stabbing death of a Claremont man will not be moved from Dodge County — at least for now.

Danny Ortega Sr. and his son Danny Ortega Jr. are both charged with stabbing and beating Troy Ulrich to death in February 2008.

In January, a grand jury returned an indictment against both men, charging them with two counts of murder in the first-degree and two counts of murder in the second degree.

Danny Ortega Sr.’s attorney had filed a motion requesting Dodge County District Judge Lawrence Agerter allow the trial to be moved from Dodge County due to media reports surrounding the incident.

On Tuesday, prosecutor Matthew Frank told the judge that he had read through the forwarded media reports and they were mostly from around the time of the incident and a few from January when the grand jury convened. Frank said the reports were not overly long or in great detail.

Agerter concurred and denied the request.

Ortega Jr.’s attorney said they will not be requesting a change of venue at this time, but reserved their request until after potential jurors return questionnaires.

Both Ortega Sr. and Ortega Jr. pleaded not-guilty to the charges.

According to the criminal complaint, Ulrich was stabbed nine times in an unattached garage next to the apartment complex where he lived.

Ulrich was drinking in the garage with brothers Anthony Bermea and Eric Bermea when the Ortegas entered the garage. Ortega Sr. allegedly pushed Ulrich and the two began to fight when Ortega Sr. drew out a knife and stabbed Ulrich.

Ortega Jr. then allegedly hit Ulrich in the head with a bolt cutter. When Ulrich fell to the ground, the two men continued to hit and kick him. Ortega Jr. picked up the knife his father dropped and stabbed Ulrich several more times in the chest, according to the complaint.

The Bermea brothers are cousins of the Ortegas. Last year, both Bermea men pleaded guilty to felony aiding an offender after the fact as they did not call police after it happened and reportedly helped the Ortegas clean up.

Both Ortega men continue to be held at the Steele County Detention Center with bail set at $1 million each.

Wendy Reuer can be reached at 444-1565.

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