Man accused of assaulting girlfriend after bailing out pleads not guilty

A man who allegedly beat and sexually assaulted his girlfriend shortly after being released from jail pleaded not guilty today to nearly a half-dozen felony counts, including attempted murder and torture.

Jorge Gilbert, 33, of Desert Hot Springs, was initially arrested March 29 after allegedly leading police on a pursuit while unlawfully possessing a gun and illegal fireworks.

After being released around 8 a.m. the following day on $10,000 bail, he tracked down his girlfriend and accused her of cheating on him while he was in custody, according to an arrest warrant declaration. He then allegedly tied her up with a phone cord, sexually assaulted her, punched, choked and burned
her with a heated methamphetamine pipe, and stabbed her in the leg and hand, according to the declaration, which states that he told her 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 on 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 withhold bail as they feared Gilbert would “likely kill the victim if released,”
according to a declaration in support of increased bail.

Gilbert was spotted Wednesday driving a vehicle in the area of 14th Street and West Drive, Desert Hot Springs Sgt. Christopher Saucier said. He allegedly jumped from the vehicle and ran after officers attempted a traffic stop, Saucier said, but was apprehended following a “foot pursuit and a brief
struggle.”

On Wednesday night, a search warrant “in connection with this case” was served at a home in the 9300 block of Calle Barranca by Desert Hot Springs police and members of the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force, the sergeant said, but no other details were released.

Gilbert was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning. He’s due in court Monday for a felony settlement conference.