A Nuevo man accused of trying to kill his girlfriend while armed with a sawed-off shotgun and assault rifle pleaded not guilty Friday to attempted murder, among other offenses.
Jaime Juarez, 25, was arrested in August after allegedly attacking the victim, whose identity was not released, in the 21000 block of Juniper Flats Road.
Along with the attempted murder count, Juarez is charged with domestic violence, assault resulting in great bodily injury, possession of an illegally modified rifle, possession of an assault rifle and child endangerment.
He was arraigned before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Jackson, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Dec. 10 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
The defendant is being held on $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Victor Pierson, on the morning of Aug. 29, deputies were called to Juarez’s Juniper Flats residence to investigate reports of a domestic squabble.
The victim told deputies that the defendant had allegedly tried to kill her overnight, holding her against her will and inflicting unspecified injuries. The reason for the attack was not disclosed.
A child was at the location, but it was unclear whether she belonged to Juarez, the victim, or both.
Pierson said investigators learned that the defendant was near Lake Perris, and he was found that evening driving in the area of Lakeview Avenue and the Ramona Expressway, where he was taken into custody without a struggle.
According to the sergeant, deputies seized the two rifles, a bulletproof vest and a large quantity of ammunition from inside the car.
Juarez has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.
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