CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) - An investigative report shows Curry County jail officials placed an inmate in a cell next to a rival despite multiple warnings that the two be separated.
Inmate Jaime Perez was then attacked with a broom-handle by the other inmate, who was awaiting trial on charges he killed Perez's brother. A jailer monitoring surveillance cameras failed to notice the assault.
An investigation and report triggered by June 27 assault revealed multiple problems at the jail and with its handling of warnings not to place Perez near Louis Guerra and its equipment and records. Guerra was later convicted of murder.
The report was released to the Clovis News Journal (http://bit.ly/OA8ckt) Thursday after the county changed its mind about rejecting its public records request.
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Information from: Clovis News Journal, http://www.cnjonline.com
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