By Janene Scully, Noozhawk North County Editor | @JaneneScully April 26, 2021 | 9:07 p.m. A defendant in one of two cases allegedly connected to the MS-13 criminal gang has changed his plea in Santa Barbara County Superior Court. Jose Eleute Mejia Orellano, 29, who has been in custody since March 2016, pleaded no contest on Monday to two counts of attempted murder plus a conspiracy to commit acts in support of a criminal gang. Of those five from the smaller case, two defendants took plea deals, and two others, including Orellano, have been awaiting trial, while the fifth remains on the loose. Orellano, who was represented by attorney Harold Mesick, initially pleaded not guilty to six felony charges of conspiracy to commit a crime plus a sentencing enhancement for a gang shooting from a vehicle resulting in great bodily injury or death.