Defendant Pleads Not Guilty In Palm Desert Hotel Beatings

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA – A Los Angeles County man who allegedly took part in the beatings of two people at a Palm Desert hotel, including an employee, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of assault, criminal threats and resisting arrest.

Dalon Emil Decoud Jr., 24, of Hawthorne, is accused, along with three others, of beating the victims at the JW Marriott on June 27 following an argument with other guests.

Two of his co-defendants, Diane Portillo, 26, of Fontana, and Danei Deborah Davis, 24, whose hometown is unknown, are slated to be arraigned on Wednesday on a charge of assault causing great bodily injury.

Another co-defendant, Gregory Lamar Pate Jr., 24, of Los Angeles, is not in custody and does not yet have a scheduled arraignment date.

Pate allegedly "incited" Portillo and Davis to fight a female employee, according to a declaration in support of an arrest warrant. The women allegedly punched and kicked the victim in the head while taking turns holding her down. The employee suffered "major swelling to the head," the declaration states.

Decoud is accused of punching a man, causing a broken orbital bone. It was unclear whether he was also an employee or another hotel guest.

Decoud was arrested while allegedly trying to flee the scene on foot. Davis, Portillo and Pate were also taken into custody at the scene, but all four were later released on bail.

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