Transient Attack In San Juan Capistrano, One Hospitalized

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA —A 41-year-old felon was charged Tuesday with beating another transient with a baseball bat in San Juan Capistrano.

Jason Michael Neuman, who is homeless, got into a dispute with another transient before the defendant beat the victim with a bat about 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the 31000 block of El Camino Real, said Orange County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Dennis Breckner.

The nature of how the altercation began was not revealed as of this report. The victim was hospitalized due to the injuries sustained in the attack.

Neuman pleaded 'not guilty' at his arraignment Tuesday in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana and was ordered to return to court Aug. 26 for a pretrial hearing at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.

Neuman is charged with assault with a deadly weapon and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and faces sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury on the victim.

This is the second known instance of Neuman striking out at another, according to court records.

Neuman pleaded guilty March 23, 2015, to assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and admitted a sentencing enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury.

A count of attempted murder with enhancements for premeditated attempted murder and inflicting great bodily injury and personally using a deadly weapon were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

Neuman was sentenced to a year in jail as part of the plea deal but ended up being sentenced to more than five years in prison after violating probation, according to court records.

City News Service contributed to this report.