Man pleads not guilty to attempted murder, torture, arson charges
A Cathedral City resident accused of assaulting and seriously injuring a man, then leaving him to die inside a burning Desert Hot Springs home, was charged today with attempted murder, aggravated mayhem, torture and arson.
Miguel Espino, 25, pleaded not guilty Friday afternoon to all counts in connection with the 7 p.m. Tuesday blaze at a home in the 15600 block of Palm Drive. Firefighters found a “badly injured” man inside “suffering from traumatic injuries consistent with an assault with a deadly weapon,” according
to the Desert Hot Springs Police Department.
The unidentified victim was hospitalized in critical condition.
Cal Fire arson investigators determined the blaze was intentionally set after the victim was assaulted, according to police, who said unspecified weapons “consistent with (the) victim’s injuries” were found inside the burned home.
Espino was arrested just before 2 a.m. Wednesday and was being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on $1 million bail. He’s due back in court Aug. 21 for a felony settlement conference.
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