Fellow inmate charged in jailhouse attack on son of former ‘Real Housewives’ star

A 36-year-old inmate was charged Tuesday in a jailhouse attack in which Josh Waring, son of former “Real Housewives of Orange County” cast member Lauri Peterson, was slashed with a blade while awaiting trial in connection with a shooting in Costa Mesa.

Jose Dejesus Guzman is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 5 in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana on one felony count each of assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a deadly weapon by a prisoner, as well as a misdemeanor count of destroying, erasing or concealing evidence.

Guzman is accused of inflicting great bodily injury on Waring, 30, who was assaulted Oct. 9 by an inmate who waited for him as Waring was returning to his cell after making a phone call at the Orange County Jail Intake-Release Center in Santa Ana.

Waring needed 20 staples, as well as stitches and butterfly bandages, to close wounds on his chest and face, according to his attorney.

Waring is awaiting trial next year on three counts of attempted murder related to a shooting outside a home on Babb Street in Costa Mesa in June 2016.

The blade attack prompted Waring to seek to have his $1-million bail reduced so he could get out of jail, where he claimed Orange County sheriff’s deputies had failed to protect him. That motion was withdrawn Friday after authorities arranged to house Waring in Santa Ana’s jail.

According to Waring’s attorney, Joel Garson, Guzman had been ordered to get back in his cell, as had others in the jail wing, but apparently hid behind stairs as Waring approached.

Guzman has a lengthy criminal history, according to the complaint in the jail attack, including guilty pleas to domestic battery, assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats, car theft, evading police and kidnapping.

He was charged in June with a felony count of possession of a deadly weapon by a prisoner and a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest, according to court records.

Daily Pilot staff contributed to this report.

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