Attempted murder charges against Drougas dropped

A Costa Mesa man accused of trying to suffocate a 91-year-old convalescent home resident has had the attempted murder charges against him dropped.

The judge dismissed the attempted murder charges against Joshua Matthew Drougas Thursday based on the evidence presented stating there appeared to be no indication it was Drougas’ intent to kill the victim, prosecutors said.

But he still faces charges of elder abuse and residential burglary.

In July, Drougas, 19, was deemed mentally competent to answer the charges.

He pleaded not guilty then to all of the charges.

This was more than six months after he was originally booked by police in February.

Late Feb. 18, Drougas walked into Mesa Verde Convalescent Hospital, passing the nurse’s station into the room of sleeping Ted Mastos of Newport Beach, according to police.

Drougas allegedly attempted to smother Mastos with a pillow, police said, but the man woke up and called for help.

When convalescent home staff entered the room Drougas did not try to run, and appeared “confused,” hospital administrators said at the time.

Mastos was unharmed, police said.

The two had never met before that night, authorities said.

Defense Attorney Arlene Speiser claims Drougas suffered some sort of mental break on the evening of the attack, but after months of care has now progressed enough to face the charges.

Drougas is still being held at Orange County Jail on $500,000 bail.

He is scheduled to appear in court for a second arraignment Monday at Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, where he will have another chance to enter a plea.

“He’s been receiving extensive psychiatric care, and he’s much better,” Speiser said.

Drougas could be sentenced to up to 15 years to life in prison, but could face possible deportation as a native of Melbourne, Australia, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities.