Police in southern California on Monday arrested a man wanted in the weekend assault of another man who later died in St. George.
St. George police announced Monday afternoon that Mario Alfonso Lucero, 31, was arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office and was booked into jail on two warrants out of Utah. The warrants are for separate charges of aggravated assault and parole violation.
Police believe that Lucero assaulted Jeramy Shawn Olsen, 31, on Saturday night, causing severe head injuries that proved fatal for Olsen on Sunday. The assault allegedly occurred in the 1000 North block of 1240 West. Lucero fled the scene before anyone called for help, police said. Police issued the $50,000 assault warrant before Olsen died.
Lucero was one of two men who in October 2006 tied up, beat and tormented a 31-year-old woman with a game of "Russian roulette," according to a story by The Salt Lake Tribune.
The woman, who told Salt Lake City police she escaped three days later, said the episode began on Oct. 15, when a woman brought her to a home near 300 North and 900 West.
Lucero, for his part in the episode, pleaded guilty in 2007 to second-degree felony aggravated assault and was sentenced by a 3rd District Court judge to prison for up to 15 years. As part of a plea deal, a count of first-degree felony aggravated kidnapping was dismissed.
In 2012, Lucero pleaded no contest to a reduced class A misdemeanor charge of assault with substantial bodily injury and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, according to court records.
The investigation into Olsen’s death is ongoing, and police in St. George believe others may have information that would be helpful in the case.
Police are expected to release more information on Tuesday, according to a spokesman.
Anyone with information is asked to call St. George Police at 435-627-4300. People also can post anonymous tips on the department’s website.
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