Accused Rapist Beaten, Stabbed by Fellow Inmates
A Westlake-area man accused of raping 14 women between 1989 and 1992 was beaten and stabbed by fellow inmates at a county jail in Saugus on Sunday after an article about his alleged crimes appeared in The Times, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said.
Jose Romeo Fuentes, 33, suffered a broken nose and possible internal injuries during the 11 a.m. attack that deputies said occurred in a crowded dorm at the North County Correctional Facility.
“The newspapers went on sale in the dorm at 8:30 a.m. and the incident occurred about two hours later,” Deputy Benita Hinojos said. “We assume there is a connection.”
Fuentes, who is scheduled to go on trial today in Los Angeles, was treated at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital and returned to custody, deputies said.
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