5 inmates charged for alleged assault at El Paso jail

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Five inmates at the El Paso County Jail Annex have been charged after an alleged assault at the jail, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.

On Oct. 25, EPCSO went to the county jail annex on Montana Avenue to investigate an assault involving an inmate.

EPCSO explained that it happened in a cell block, which has four rooms with six inmates assigned to each room.

During the investigation, deputies reviewed surveillance footage from the housing unit. The video showed five inmates entering a cell, and one blocked officers' view into the cell, EPCSO said.

Deputies interviewed the victim at a local hospital. The victim said his injuries were from a "one-on-one" fight, according to the sheriff's office. EPCSO said the victim had bruises and injuries on his face, head and eyes.

EPCSO said the alleged assault may have been related to internal gang discipline.

Deputies identified the five inmates allegedly involved. The victim declined to pursue criminal charges, but deputies continued the investigation. On Tuesday, EPCSO obtained warrants for the following suspects:

• Leroy Anaya, who is 29-years-old
• Santiago Carrillo, who is 31-years-old
• David Mendoza Jr., who is 27-years-old
• Gabriel Manuel Ontiveros, who is 30-years-old
• Juan Rene Hernandez, who is 30-years-old

Each person faces an additional charge for engaging in organized criminal activity, which is a state jail felony.

ABC-7 previously reported that Ontiveros was arrested and accused of murdering a man whose body was found in Socorro. Ontiveros allegedly triggered a SWAT response in El Paso while hiding. He's scheduled for a jury trial in March 2027.