Prison beating probe

Records reveal case against officers in July incident

A GROUP OF INMATES BEATANOTHER INMATE -- ALMOST TODEATH.

WHAT THEY TOLDINVESTIGATORS.GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FORJOINING US.

I'M PAT PARRIS.VALERIE CAVAZOS IS WORKINGREMOTELY.WE'RE NOW GETTING A DEEPERPERSPECTIVE INTO THAT ALLEGEDPRISON BEATING -- AND THECHARGES THE OFFICERS AREFACING.

NINE ON YOUR SIDE'SCRAIG SMITH BREAKS DOWN WHATHAPPENED -- AND SHOWS US THEAUDIO -- FROM INVESTIGATORS.WHEN JAVIER CHAVEZ CAME TO HISJOB KEEPING PRISONERS INCUSTODY, ((HE ENDED UP CUFFEDAND IN CUSTODY.

INVESTIGATORSARRESTED CO- WORKER ALFREDOREYES TOO.

AT THE TIME, BOTHWERE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS ATTHE CIMARRON UNIT, PART OF THEARIZONA PRISON COMPLEX OFFTUCSON'S WILMOT ROAD.

THEY'RECHARGED WITH LETTING INMATESBEAT AN INMATE NAMED RAULMORENO SO BADLY, THAT MANSPENT DAYS IN INTENSIVE CARE.THIS VIDEO OBTAINED BY KGUN9SHOWS THE VICTIM IN AWHEELCHAIR BEING WHEELED OFFFOR HELP.

ONE DAY LATER ANINVESTIGATOR TELLS REYES:INVESTIGATOR: 3:24 "THIS IS AVERY SERIOUS DEAL.

HE HASN'TDIED YET.

BUT HE MIGHT.

AND IFHE DOES, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOINGTO GET CHARGED WITH MURDER."3:30 RUNS: 06 CHAVEZ AND REYESARE ALSO CHARGED WITH TRYINGTO COVER UP THE ATTACK BYHAVING INMATES MOVE THE VICTIMFROM ONE CELL TO ANOTHER,HAVING INMATES CLEAN UP THEVICTIM'S BLOOD AND WAITINGMORE THAN AN HOUR TO CALL FORMEDICAL HELP.

INVESTIGATORSTOLD CHAVEZ: INVESTIGATOR:42:51 SO THAT'S A FELONYTAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE.

ANDTHAT YOU'RE GONNA GO TO JAILFOR TODAY'S CONSPIRACY TOTAMPER WITH EVIDENCE.INVESTIGATOR: BECAUSE HE'S ANAGGRAVATED ASSAULT RIGHT NOWBECAUSE HE'S GOT SERIOUSINJURY.

BUT IF HE DIES, IT'S AHOMICIDE.

SO YOU JUST LET THEMCLEAN UP THE CRIME SCENE OFHOMICIDE.

43:10 RUNS: 19 FIVEINMATES ARE CHARGED IN THECASE TOO.

INVESTIGATORS SAYTHE INMATES GAVE THE VICTIMWHAT PRISON SLANG CALLS "A HOTONE" BECAUSE INMATES WEREANGRY HE WAS USING HEROIN ANDTHAT THESE INMATES EITHER WEREIN ON THE ATTACK OR HELPEDCLEAN UP THE EVIDENCE.

22:08INVESTIGATOR: YOU KNOW HE WASASSAULTED AT THAT CELL?

&.REYES: "YEAH." INVESTIGATOR:"AND YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHINGABOUT IT?" REYES: "UHH...HEJUST GOT A HOT ONE AND AND IDIDN'T&.

" INVESTIGATOR: "BUTIS THAT OKAY?

IS IT OKAY FORYOU AS A C-O (CORRECTIONSOFFICER) TO SAY, OH, THEY'REGONNA GIVE HIM A HOT ONE.

I'MJUST GONNA LET THE INMATES DOTHEIR DISCIPLINE THING, BUTTHAT'S OKAY?" REYES: "NO."INVESTIGATOR: "BECAUSE THAT'SWHAT YOU DID