Rayjai Watters, 23, of Riverside was arrested in December following a Riverside Police Department investigation into the slaying of Richard Castaneda.

Watters is due to appear before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gary Polk at the Riverside Hall of Justice Friday morning.

The defendant is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail.

According to police spokesman Officer Ryan Railsback, the alleged attack happened just before 7 a.m. on Nov. 28 in the 5900 block of Magnolia Avenue, near Jurupa Avenue, in an area known as the “Woods Streets.”

Railsback alleged there was an unspecified conflict which led to an “unprovoked and brutal attack” perpetrated by Watters against Castaneda, who was homeless.

The victim was severely beaten about the head with an undisclosed instrument, after which Watters allegedly fled the location, according to Railsback.

He said first responders arrived minutes later and discovered Castaneda unconscious with major trauma. The victim was taken to nearby Riverside Community Hospital, where he lingered in a coma until his death on Dec. 4.

Robbery-Homicide Unit detectives soon identified Watters as the alleged assailant and obtained a warrant for his arrest. He was taken into custody without incident on Dec. 8 along Iowa Avenue and transported to the downtown jail.

The defendant has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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Mitchell Akira Takata, 22, of Los Altos admitted the molestation count, as well as attempted sodomy of a minor under 10 years old, under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. In exchange for his admissions, prosecutors agreed to drop an attempted rape charge against Takata.

The plea deal was announced Friday, just as the defendant’s case was called for a preliminary hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice. Superior Court Judge Juan Dominguez scheduled a sentencing hearing for Dec. 15 at the downtown courthouse, according to court minutes released Monday.

No prospective term of imprisonment was disclosed in the minutes.

Takata is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail. He had been free on bond, but was remanded into custody following his admissions Friday.

According to the Riverside Police Department, the Sexual Assault-Child Abuse Unit initiated an investigation in May 2024 after receiving reports that Takata had sexually abused “a severely handicapped and non-verbal girl” during a therapy session in her home.

Specific details regarding what happened at the residence, located in the city’s Ramona neighborhood, were not provided. It was also unclear how the victim conveyed her experiences to family members, culminating in the investigation.

SACA detectives procured sufficient evidence on the same day of the assault to take the defendant into custody — while he was on the job, police said.

There were initial concerns that other disabled youths might have been targeted by Takata, who had been a behavioral therapist for roughly three years, but no one else came forward after his arrest was announced.

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The suspects were identified as Kenny Andrew Johnson, 40, of Riverside, and Alonzo Jeffery Monk Jr., 43, of Colton, according to the Riverside Police Department.

On Sept. 29, officers responded to an automotive business in the 2900 block of Orange Street around 4:30 a.m. after a woman said her boyfriend had been shot.

Police found the victim, Horacio Montero Jr., 27, of Riverside, suffering from gunshot wounds inside a trailer. He was rushed to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.

The suspects fled the scene before authorities arrived. Following an investigation, Johnson was identified as a suspect and arrested a few hours later.

Detectives later determined the shooting was a murder-for-hire case involving a second suspect, Monk Jr. On Oct. 2, he was located and arrested in Colton.

Police believe Johnson conspired with Monk Jr. to have the victim killed; however, the motive behind the murder remains unclear. Police told the Press-Enterprise that they believe Monk was the one who fired the deadly shots.

Both men were arrested for murder and conspiracy to commit murder and are being held without bail.

No further details were released as the case remains under investigation. Anyone with information should contact Detective Richard Glover at 951-353-7134 or RGlover@RiversideCA.gov, or Detective Anthony Watkins at 951-353-7105 or AWatkins@RiversideCA.gov.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Riverside Police Department’s “Atlas 1” mobile app by using the “Send a Message” feature.

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The man, whose age and identity were not released, was contacted by police officers shortly after 6:30 a.m. Friday. They were summoned to a McDonald’s in the 7400 block of Indiana Avenue after employees at the fast-food chain called about a man who had locked himself inside the restroom and was not responding.

“The business requested prosecution for trespassing, and when officers arrived, they had the man exit the restroom,” according to the Riverside Police Department. “The man became combative and force was used to detain him.”

While being treated by paramedics, the man “remained combative” before going into medical distress, the Riverside Police Department said.

“He was transported to a local hospital where medical staff provided treatment for over an hour,” the law enforcement agency said. “Despite their efforts, the man later died.”

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office are assisting with the death investigation.

No further details were released.

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RIVERSIDE, CA — A downtown Riverside smoke shop was raided last week over community complaints of alleged illegal activity, police announced.

The Riverside Police Department’s vice unit served a search warrant Thursday at DTOWN Smoke Shop, 3466 University Avenue. Inside, investigators allegedly found evidence of illegal gambling and narcotics activities. A store employee was found in possession of suspected cocaine and a loaded firearm, police said.

Agents with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration also opened an investigation into DTOWN Smoke Shop over alleged illegal sales and use of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis products.

Thursday’s bust came after the Riverside Police Department allegedly “received numerous complaints” over the last several months of possible illegal activity at the establishment.

Anyone with additional information about the case is asked to contact the RPD vice unit at RPDVice@RiversideCA.gov.

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