Inmate injured in prison assault

An inmate from the Nevada State Prison was reported in critical condition Wednesday after being assaulted by other inmates.

Eugene Ortega, 44, was found unconscious on the shower floor at NSP on Fifth Street at 6:32 p.m. Tuesday. Prison spokesman Fritz Schlottman said he suffered serious head and other injuries and was taken by Care Flight helicopter to Washoe Medical Center.

Schlottman said Ortega was on life support at the hospital.

The prison was locked down pending an investigation of the assault. That means visitation was suspended at least Wednesday and possibly today.

Ortega is serving a 6- to 15-year sentence for robbery out of Clark County. He was recently transferred to Carson City from Ely State Prison. He will complete his sentence in November 2007.

That is the second assault in recent weeks at the prison. In the first instance, the victim required only stitches.

Schlottman said both assaults involve what investigators believe is an internal battle within a single gang.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.