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Prosecutors get autopsy of Alfred Willis Torres Sr. , say decision on charges against accused assailants still pending
- Mark Sabbatini
- Jul 9
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 17
Devon Rivera and Chelsea Willis are currently facing assault-related charges after Torres was attacked in downtown parking garage in April; he died about a month later
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
This story has been corrected to note that Devon Rivera is not the nephew of Alfred Willis Torres Sr.
A decision on whether two people accused of assaulting of Alfred Willis Torres Sr. will face additional charges due to his death following an assault in a downtown parking garage is still pending, according to Juneau District Attorney Whitney Bostick.
Prosecutors have received an autopsy of Torres, 53, which is among the information being sought in the case, Bostick told Judge Amy Mead during a readiness hearing Wednesday at the Dimond Courthouse. But in an interview Thursday, Bostick said her office is still evaluating evidence to determine if Devon Rivera, 29, and Chelsea Willis, 37, will face more than their current assault-related charges.
Torres was found semiconscious in the Marine Parking Garage shortly after 11 p.m. April 6 by emergency officials who responded to a caller reporting the assault, according to court records. He was treated at Bartlett Regional Hospital for deep head lacerations and other traumatic facial injuries, then flown to hospitals in Anchorage and Seattle.
A family member announced May 3 he was brain dead after receiving further surgery at a Seattle hospital. A May 6 press release by the Alaska Department of Law stated additional charges against Rivera and Willis might be filed due to Torres’ death.
Rivera and Willis were detained and arrested after being seen walking away from the building by a Juneau Police Department officer responding to the scene, according to a court charging document. Torres, while at Bartlett, told JPD officers his nephew and niece were the assailants. However, Bostick said Rivera is not Torres’ nephew.
According to the court charging document, Rivera told police he was at the parking garage building with Willis when she departed on a walk and returned with Torres, who didn’t know Rivera was there.
“Willis alleged they were acting in self-defense in relation to an alleged incident that occurred years prior,” according to the charging document. “Rivera learned about this allegation and that’s why he attacked Alfred.”
Rivera is currently facing a felony charge of second-degree assault, and two felony charges of third-degree assault. Willis is facing a felony charge of tampering with evidence and a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree assault. Prosecutors are also seeking “mandatory or presumptive sentencing” against Rivera due to prior felony convictions and “aggravating factors.”
The next scheduled court action in the case is a readiness hearing on Sept. 9.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
