A 55-year-old Santa Ana gang member accused of grabbing and smelling a 10-year-old boy who was walking to soccer practice pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a false-imprisonment charge, authorities said.

Victor Joseph Espinoza also pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of street terrorism and denied sentencing enhancements for committing a crime for the benefit of a gang and for having an earlier strike conviction for street terrorism, Orange County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Farrah Emami said.

The 10-year-old boy was with his 19-year-old female cousin near Delhi Park shortly after 7:30 p.m. Thursday when, prosecutors say, Espinoza asked the boy if he wanted to see his gang tattoo, which was on his hand or arm. When the boy got close enough, Espinoza grabbed him, picked him up and sniffed him, police said.

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