A man accused of fatally beating a senior at his Riverside home pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murder.
Juan Carlos Barraza, 18, was arrested in July after the alleged attack on the 73-year-old victim, whose identity has yet to be released by coroner’s officials for unspecified reasons, in a garage converted into an apartment in the 3300 block of Lime Street in downtown Riverside.
Barraza was arraigned before Riverside County Superior Court Judge David Gunn, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Oct. 15 at the Riverside Hall of Justice. The defendant is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.
According to Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback, shortly after midnight on July 28, officers were called to the victim’s residence to investigate reports that he was injured, possibly from an assault.
Railsback said the senior’s caregiver had stopped by to check on him and encountered Barraza leaving the apartment. When the witness looked inside, he spotted the victim, who appeared hurt, prompting him to call 911, according to police.
Officers confirmed the man had suffered major injuries and was unconscious. Paramedics were summoned and attempted to resuscitate him, but he died at the scene, Railsback said.
Barraza was detained for questioning and ultimately arrested in connection with the fatal assault.
He has no prior documented felony convictions in Riverside County.