Jesse Martinez, 37, is charged with murder, elder or dependent adult abuse resulting in death, and a hate crime allegation. Martinez was unable to come to court for medical reasons, and his arraignment was rescheduled for Dec. 31, according to a court clerk.
Martinez is presumably in quarantine for the coronavirus and sheriff’s jail records indicate that he is being held at Twin Towers Correctional Facility downtown in lieu of $1 million bail.
He could face up to 28 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
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The attack occurred around 9:45 a.m. on Dec. 17, according to the sheriff’s department, which reported the two men did not know each other prior to being admitted to the hospital.
“(The victim) was housed in a two-person room inside the hospital with the suspect, who was also there receiving treatment,” according to a sheriff’s statement. “The suspect became upset when the victim started to pray. He then struck the victim with an oxygen tank.”
The victim, David Hernandez-Garcia, was a Lancaster resident, according to the coroner’s office.
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