A Moreno Valley man accused of nearly beating an 86-year-old family member to death was charged Tuesday with attempted murder and other offenses.

Alvaro Gutierrez, 40, was arrested Friday after the alleged attack near the intersection of Alessandro Boulevard and Nason Street.

Along with the attempted murder count, Gutierrez is charged with elder abuse, assault resulting in great bodily injury and resisting arrest, with a sentence-enhancing allegation of inflicting life-threatening injuries on a person over 70 years old.

Gutierrez pleaded not guilty during an arraignment before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Jackson, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for June 14 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

Jackson also signed a domestic violence restraining order barring the defendant from having any further contact with the victim, whose identity and exact relationship to Gutierrez were not disclosed.

Gutierrez is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

According to Sheriff’s Sgt. Gil Gonzalez, deputies were called to the victim’s residence about 6:30 p.m. Friday to investigate reports of an assault. When deputies arrived, they found the 86-year-old man lying in the street, suffering “severe injuries,” Gonzalez said.

He said the ensuring investigation revealed that Gutierrez had allegedly attacked the victim during an argument.

The defendant was taken into custody without a struggle.

He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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