EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — A federal lawsuit against El Paso County regarding an inmate death is moving forward after a judge denied the county’s request to dismiss or pause the case.

The lawsuit stems from the 2023 death of 57-year-old detainee Jesus Torres, who prosecutors say was brutally beaten and killed by six other inmates inside the El Paso County Jail.

Constitutional rights lawyer Dean Malone, who represents Jesus’ family members and filed a federal lawsuit against El Paso County, announced the denial of the county’s request to dismiss.

The family of Torres filed the federal lawsuit against EL Paso County in November of 2024– almost a year after the attack–accusing it of negligence.

According to the lawsuit, the assault was visible on a jail camera, yet no staff intervened as Torres’ body reportedly remained in the cell for hours before it was discovered.

The family claims the jail failed to conduct proper inmate check-ins, resulting in Torres being found 12 hours after he was attacked by the six other inmates.

Those inmates were identified as 31-year-old Manuel Alejandro Vargas, 18-year-old Juan Alberto Ortiz, 23-year-old George Lopez, 38-year-old Jesus Adrian Rocha, 29-year-old Jovani Dionicio Ramos, and 25-year-old Christian Carillo.

The attack inside the jail led to an administrative investigation done by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs Unit and a review by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards later found the jail out of compliance, noting previous failures to protect detainees.

Malone says the family is relieved the case will proceed, calling the killing “a travesty and easily preventable” and vowing to hold the county accountable.

“Our law firm and Jesus’ family are glad that the Court allowed the case to continue. What happened to Jesus is a travesty and easily preventable. After an extensive assault, Jesus’ body lay in the cell for hours. We will continue to stand alongside his family to hold El Paso County accountable,” Malone said.

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