A man who allegedly beat and sexually assaulted his girlfriend shortly after being released from jail was in custody Thursday on suspicion of attempted murder.
Jorge Gilbert, 33, of Desert Hot Springs, was arrested March 29 after allegedly leading police on a pursuit while unlawfully possessing a gun and illegal fireworks, then was released at around 8 a.m. the following day on $10,000 bail.
He then tracked down his girlfriend, who he allegedly accused of cheating on him while he was in custody, an arrest warrant declaration states.
The ensuing assault involved sexually assaulting her, punching her, choking her, burning her with a heated methamphetamine pipe, and stabbing her in the leg and hand with an undisclosed object, according to the declaration, which states that he said he was going to “bury her.”
The girlfriend fled from the location and was able to get help from a nearby resident, who called police, the declaration states.
Prosecutors charged Gilbert Monday with attempted murder, torture, forcible sexual penetration, false imprisonment, and making criminal threats. A warrant was issued for his arrest, with police requesting that a judge approve withholding bail as they feared he would “likely kill the victim if released,” a declaration in support of increased bail stated.
Gilbert was spotted on Wednesday driving a vehicle in the area of 14th Street and West Drive, Desert Hot Springs Sgt. Christopher Saucier said.
Gilbert allegedly jumped from the vehicle and ran after officers attempted a traffic stop on him, Saucier said, but he was apprehended following a “foot pursuit and a brief struggle.” A search warrant was also served at a home in the 9300 block of Calle Barranca Wednesday evening by Desert Hot Springs police and members of the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force, the sergeant said. The search warrant was served “in connection with this case,” but the nature of that connection was not disclosed.
Gilbert was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning and was expected to make his initial court appearance on Friday.
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