RivCo Sex Offender Accosts Skilled Nursing Home Roommate, Arrested

BANNING, CA — The Banning Police Department arrested a registered sex offender in violation of his parole following a brutal assault on his nursing home roommate overnight.

Sam Timaloa, 76, was arrested at the scene of the Banning Healthcare skilled nursing facility on assault charges, according to Acting Captain Brandon Smith. He was being held without bail at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility, on multiple pending felony charges including attempted murder, harming or causing death to an elder adult, assault with great bodily injury and violation of state parole of a felony, jail records show. He was awaiting a Monday court date, according to jail records.

Shortly after 1:45 a.m., Banning Police Officers arrived at Banning Health Care, located at 3476 W. Wilson Street, in the City of Banning, about an assault that occurred in Timaloa's room.

"Staff at the facility advised officers that a 76-year-old patient assaulted his 92-year-old roommate," Smith said. Officers arrived at the location and discovered that a 92-year-old male victim had sustained severe injuries from an assault.

"Cal Fire and AMR medical personnel were transported to a local trauma hospital for further treatment. He was transported in stable but critical condition," Smith said.

Investigators later learned that Timaloa was a registered sex offender, in violation, according to Smith.

Court records show Timaloa has prior convictions for forcible rape, attempted murder with a sentence-enhancing knife allegation and domestic violence. He was sentenced to 23 years in state prison in 2008 but qualified for early parole last year.
Documents indicated that he violated his parole last summer, at which point the court ordered a psychological evaluation. During that time, other unspecified health issues surfaced, evidently resulting in Timaloa being placed in the skilled nursing facility.
A county Adult Protective Services case worker had been assigned to handle his affairs, documents stated.

It was unclear if the facility, Banning Healthcare, knew about Timaloa's sex offender status. The skilled nursing home is a 64-room skilled nursing facility.