Prosecutors say the officer lost consciousness during the 22-second assault while monitoring inmates on behalf of the U.S. Marshals Service

Organ Mountain News report

DOÑA ANA COUNTY - Federal prosecutors have charged three inmates accused of attacking a correction officer assisting the U.S. Marshals Service at the Doña Ana County Detention Center earlier this month, according to court documents released Wednesday.

According to the criminal complaint, the officer was monitoring inmates on behalf of the U.S. Marshals Service on May 11 when he walked upstairs to observe a federal inmate housed on the second floor of the detention center.

Prosecutors allege the officer encountered inmates Juan Gabriel Torres, Sergio Seanez and Titus Josiah McGaw Bulger in an area where they were not authorized to be.

Court documents state Torres attempted to punch the officer before Seanez and Bulger joined the attack, knocking him to the ground.

According to prosecutors, Seanez held the officer down while Torres and Bulger punched, kicked and stomped on his body, head and neck until he lost consciousness.

The complaint alleges the three inmates continued striking the officer after he became unresponsive. Prosecutors also allege Torres removed the officer’s Taser and used it on him while he was unconscious.

Federal authorities allege the assault lasted about 22 seconds and involved roughly 30 punches and 15 kicks before additional guards entered the housing pod in response.

The officer received medical treatment and was transported to a hospital, where he later regained consciousness, according to prosecutors.

Torres, Seanez and Bulger each face a federal charge of assault involving a dangerous weapon and inflicting bodily injury on a person assisting officers of the United States. If convicted, they each face up to 20 years in prison.

The FBI’s Las Cruces Resident Agency investigated the case with assistance from the Doña Ana County Detention Center, the U.S. Marshals Service and Las Cruces Police Department task force officers. Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant Gardner is prosecuting the case.