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SALT LAKE CITY — A man was sent to prison Monday after pleading guilty to robbing and fatally punching a man living in a tent last May.
Juan Ayala, 47, who is also known as "Gorilla," was sentenced to a term of zero to five years at a Utah State Prison. In December, Ayala pleaded guilty to robbery and criminal homicide by assault, both third-degree felonies, as part of a plea deal. Ayala was initially charged with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, and two class B misdemeanor counts of assault.
Bernardo Perez was found unconscious and with a head injury on May 17 near 235 S. Rio Grande St. He was taken to a local hospital and died days later on May 21.
Police later learned that two men, including one only known as "Gorilla," had gone into Perez's tent and attacked him, according to charging documents. They allegedly tried to take Perez's thermos and a laptop, and the two allegedly began to hit the man with a "large metal pole."
Investigators later identified Ayala as one of the attackers. Prosecutors also charged Christopher Flores, 54, in connection with the fatal assault, though all charges against him were later dropped. A court filing from Dec. 9 indicates charges were dismissed without prejudice "due to witness issues." That means the charges could potentially be refiled.
Ayala entered guilty pleas to the fatal assault that same day, according to court records.
In addition to his prison sentence, Ayala was given credit for the 247 days he's already spent in jail. An amount for restitution was not specified in court documents, as Ayala will have a restitution review hearing in April.
