SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA / A news summary : The Regional Review / DEVELOPMENTS IN ORANGE, RIVERSIDE, SAN BERNARDINO AND VENTURA : Defendant Arrested in Punching of Inmate
Murder defendant David Alvarez has been arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor battery for allegedly punching a jail inmate last weekend.
Authorities say the incident occurred Saturday afternoon at Ventura County’s main jail, where Alvarez is being held without bail on charges that he strangled and tried to rape a 14-year-old Oak View girl in December.
“While he was being moved from one cell to another, he ran and attacked another inmate worker,” said Cmdr. Mark Ball of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.
Alvarez, a 23-year-old Ojai resident, punched the inmate, Ball said. A deputy separated the two men.
The 35-year-old victim, who was serving meals to inmates at the time of the alleged incident, sustained minor injuries.
Alvarez, who was scheduled to be arraigned on a single count of battery Wednesday afternoon in Ventura County Superior Court, appeared for a video arraignment from jail with his attorney. Charges had not been filed, and the matter was postponed.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
