Costa Mesa man indicted for fatal beating in jail cell

Raul Villafana, 21, of Costa Mesa, and a Corona man have been indicted for allegedly participating in the October 2006 fatal beating of John Chamberlain while they were in custody in an Orange County jail, prosecutors said Friday.

Villafana’s indictment brings the total to nine Theo Lacy Facility inmates charged in the slaying. Chamberlain was in custody on possession of child pornography, and the inmates targeted him because they thought he was a child molester, prosecutors said.

The inmates’ jury trial is expected to begin at 9 a.m. June 13 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

If convicted, the inmates face 25 years to life in prison. Villafana’s indictment comes with the end of a nine-month Special Criminal Grand Jury investigation, which examined inmate involvement and possible negligence by officers at the scene.

The grand jury transcripts are expected to be released in eight months, officials said.

— Joseph Serna