Two brothers accused of fatally beating a 27-year-old man in Jurupa Valley were each charged Thursday with first-degree murder.
Juan Luis Aguilar, 35, and Miguel Angel Aguilar, 31, were arrested Monday following a nearly three-week investigation by Riverside County sheriff’s detectives into the death of Esteban Perez.
The defendants, both convicted felons, are slated to make a joint initial court appearance Thursday afternoon at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Juan Aguilar is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside; his younger brother is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Indio Jail.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Wally Clear, the attack happened in the predawn hours of March 23 in the 6300 block of Etiwanda Avenue, near Limonite Avenue. The Aguilars allegedly assaulted Perez outside or inside of his vehicle. Witnesses discovered the victim in his car, unconscious, and called 911.
Perez was taken to Riverside Community Hospital, where he died three days later, apparently never regaining consciousness, the sergeant said.
Detectives pieced together the events surrounding the attack, culminating in the identification of Juan and Miguel Aguilar as the alleged perpetrators, according to Clear. A possible motive was not disclosed.
Court records show Juan Aguilar has prior convictions for possession of controlled substances, spousal abuse, auto theft and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Miguel Aguilar has priors for felony evading, auto theft, possession of controlled substances and possession of burglary tools.
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