An 18-year-old from New Mexico was charged with assault today in the Oct. 12 death of his younger sister after an altercation in a motel parking lot.
Joseph Daniel Mascarenas remains in the Adams County Detention Center in lieu of $100,000 bail. The age of his sister and the exact cause of her death has not been released.
“That remains part of the investigation,” said Krista Flannigan, a spokesman of the district attorney’s office.
Law enforcement was called when the two were reportedly arguing in the parking lot at 6 a.m. in 7300 block of U.S. 85 in Adams County. After authorities arrived, the girl was rushed to a hospital, where she died.
Mascarenas was initially being investigated on a charge of second-degree murder, but investigators found a charge of second-degree assault more appropriate, according to prosecutors.
The charge is a Class 4 felony that carries maximum sentence of eight years in prison, if Mascarenas is convicted.
His preliminary court hearing is Nov. 2.
