CEDAR CITY — Two men, including a recently sentenced double murderer, are facing felony assault charges after allegedly instigating an attack at a youth detention facility in Cedar City on Wednesday night.
The incident, which reportedly left three staff members with “substantial” bodily injuries, occurred shortly after 10 p.m. at the Southwest Utah Youth Center at 270 E. 1600 North.
Daniel Martinez, 20, and Turner Simons, 18, were both booked into Iron County Jail early Thursday. They each face three counts of assault by a prisoner, a third-degree felony, and assault with substantial bodily injury, a class A misdemeanor.
According to the probable cause statements filed in support of the charges, Cedar City Police officers were dispatched to the detention center on a report that two male prisoners were attacking staff.
Responding officers were able to subdue both suspects using Tasers, the affidavit states.
The affidavit states that three staff members were kicked and punched during the attack, and had items thrown at them.
“One victim was kicked in the head,” the arresting officer wrote in the affidavit, adding, “Another victim had a significant amount of blood on his face from where he was hit.”
After being evaluated by medical responders at the scene, all three staff members were then taken to the hospital for treatment. The extent of their injuries is still under investigation, the charging document states.
According to the affidavit, the two suspects planned and coordinated the attack.
“Throughout their interaction with officers, the individuals have made several statements about not caring what happens or what charges they face,” the affidavit states. “(Martinez) mentioned having a 50-year sentence and not caring about anything anymore.”
According to a recent news release from Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, Martinez was sentenced in 3rd District Court on July 18 to two consecutive terms of 25 years to life in prison.
Following a weeklong jury trial in late May 2024, Martinez was convicted of two counts of aggravated murder for shooting two men and killing them during a party in Draper in April 2022.
As for Simons, who turned 18 on July 18, a search of Utah court records does not reveal an adult criminal history. Both suspects are being held without bail in Iron County Jail as of noon Tuesday.
This report is based on statements from court documents and law enforcement officials and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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