A decision by a 28-year-old man to plead guilty to murder in the beating death of an inmate, who was attacked by a total of five prisoners at the county jail, was a shocking development, a deputy district attorney said today.
Shaun Allen Wachter delivered the killing blow to Joseph Anthony Perez, 36, of San Jacinto, on Oct. 7, 2004, at the Southwest Detention Center, according to prosecutor John Davis.
At the time of the killing, Wachter was awaiting trial on another murder charge in connection with a gang shootout in Riverside, he said.
At a trial-readiness conference on March 11, Wachter stunned observers by pleading guilty to murder and admitting weapons and prison prior allegations. He was immediately sentenced to 58 years in prison.
Wachter had already been tried and sentenced to 81 years in prison for the Riverside murder, Davis said.
"It’s been unprecedented in my experience," Davis said of the plea. "It was a surprise."
Davis said that of the 200 or so murder cases he’s prosecuted in his career, only one other defendant has pleaded guilty, with no plea deal made. That man received a 65-year prison term.
Davis said he thought perhaps Wachter was just tired of the delay in going to trial, something for which the Riverside courts have become infamous.
Wachter’s attorney, Peter Morreale, was not immediately available for comment.
Wachter, along with Henry Jose Avalos, 27, of Blythe, Rigoberto Ochoa, 32, of Moreno Valley, Angel Guerrero, 30, of Hemet, and Michael Joseph Gutierrez, 35, of Riverside, was charged with killing Perez during a fight.
Perez had already been badly beaten by another inmate earlier that day, and avenged himself by slicing his attacker’s face with a razor, Davis said.
When Wachter and the others saw Perez attack their friend, they allegedly jumped him, punching and kicking him, even after he was down and unconscious, Davis said.
Wachter then walked over to a large lemonade dispenser, picked it up slammed it into Perez’s head several times, the prosecutor said.
"Wachter was the one who delivered the death blow," Davis said.
According to the Riverside County coroner’s office, Perez died of skull fractures and brain contusions caused by blunt force impacts to the head and neck.
The four other men are set for a trial-readiness conference on May 9. They were all awaiting trial on various offenses when the 2004 killing occurred.
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