OAKLAND — A 30-year-old parolee has been charged with multiple crimes in the alleged assaults of two elderly men April 10 at a Chinatown market, according to authorities and court records.
Jeremy Morton of Hayward is charged with assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and two counts of elder abuse.
He has admitted his involvement in the attacks, authorities said. If convicted of all charges he could face up to 19 years in prison.
He is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges Friday, the same day he is scheduled for a parole revocation hearing.
The attacks occurred about 9:45 a.m. April 10 at a market in the 200 block of Eighth Street.
Authorities said the assaults happened after Morton became angry when a 67-year-old store employee asked to inspect a bag Morton was carrying before he was allowed into the store. Morton allegedly kicked and punched the man and left when a second man — a 77-year-old customer — intervened, authorities said.
But Morton returned moments later and attacked the 77-year-old customer from behind, hitting him with his fists and striking him with a shopping cart before fleeing again.
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On April 24 officers with the police walking detail were alerted that a man matching the attacker’s description was in Chinatown, police said. He was not immediately located.
But an ambassador with the Business Improvement District gave officers information about the man’s possible location. Officers found and arrested Morton in the 900 block of Washington Street.
According to court documents, Morton is on parole for an August 2022 carjacking conviction. He also has prior convictions for false imprisonment by violence, grand theft of real property and second degree robbery.
In a statement released Monday announcing the filing of charges, Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson said “this unprovoked attack against two elderly men shocks the conscience of our community. Our office stands with the victims of this alleged assault, and the charges that Mr. Morton faces reflect the seriousness of his actions and the need to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.”
Staff writer Chase Hunter contributed to this report.
