A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy is facing nearly four years in prison after being accused of assaulting an inmate at a downtown Los Angeles courthouse more than two years ago, officials announced late last week. 

The incident, according to a news release from the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office, occurred on Jan. 20, 2022, at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. 

Prosecutors allege that 43-year-old Deputy Maria Torres, who was working in the court lock-up, encountered an inmate that refused to leave his cell.  

“Torres allegedly unlawfully sprayed the inmate through a gap in the cell door and then falsified a report about her use of force,” the release stated.  

The 43-year-old has been charged with a felony count of assault by a public officer and felony count of filing a false report by a police officer.  

“The alleged actions of Deputy Maria Torres are not only contrary to the values and principles that we uphold in law enforcement, but they also represent a significant breach of trust within our community,” District Attorney Gascón said. “The victim deserved to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of the circumstances.” 

If convicted as charged, Torres could be sentenced to a maximum of three years and eight months in state prison to be served in local custody.  

The investigation into the allegations was being handled by the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s Internal Criminal Investigation Bureau.  

A wildfire that erupted Sunday in Riverside County has reportedly burned three, possibly four homes and prompted officials to order evacuations, authorities confirmed to KTLA.  

The ‘Hawarden Fire’ started at approximately 1:30 p.m. in the 6500 block of Hawarden Drive in Riverside and quickly spread to 492 acres and is 0% contained, according to Cal Fire.  

In video of a portion of the blaze obtained by KTLA, crews can be seen attempting to douse flames as they gulf a number of different structures. A police officer is also seen carrying a dog out of a structure that was either threatened by fire.

Evacuations, which were being handled by the Riverside Police Department, were in place for the following areas: 

• Eagle Crest Court and Chartwell Drive 

• Horace Street and Hawarden Drive 

• Golden Hills area 

The cause of the fire is under investigation. So far, no injuries have been reported.  

About 17 miles away, another blaze, the ‘Eagle Fire’ near Corona has also triggered evacuations. It was located in the area of Eagle Canyon Road and Cajalco Road, which connects Corona to Lake Mathews. 

As of the most recent update, that wildfire had burned 321 acres and was at 0% containment.  

This is a developing story. Stay with KTLA for additional details.

A Riverside County man is in custody after he allegedly fatally stabbed another man in a parking lot. 

According to a release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to the 31000 block of Riverside Drive at 9:32 p.m. Saturday in Lake Elsinore on calls of an assault with a deadly weapon. 

Arriving deputies located a man suffering from several stab wounds, RCSO said; he was transported to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. 

His identity is not being released pending notification of next-of-kin. 

“Deputies developed suspect information and a direction of travel in which he fled after the stabbing,” RCSO stated.  “The suspect was soon located fleeing into an apartment complex in the 16000 block of Joy Street.” 

Deputies later took the man – identified as 50-year-old Steven Smith of Lake Elsinore – into custody without further incident inside the apartment complex, authorities said. 

No additional suspects are believed to be outstanding, law enforcement officials added.

Smith was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for murder.  Inmate records indicate that he was also charged with two misdemeanors: unlawful possession of paraphernalia and trespassing. 

His bail was set at $1 million. 

Smith is scheduled to appear at the Murrieta Southwest Justice Center for his first court appearance on Wednesday. 

Anyone with information surrounding the deadly stabbing is asked to contact Investigator D. Robinson with the RCSO’s Central Homicide Unit by calling 951-955-2777.

Information can also be submitted to Investigator Contreras at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station by calling 951-245-3300.