RV student arrested after fight at party

A River Valley High School student was arrested on suspicion of battery involving a 17-year-old girl at a party, Yuba City police said Wednesday.

Jesus Chavez, 18, of the 800 block of Shasta Street, Yuba City, was arrested at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Police Department, said police spokeswoman Shawna Pavey.

The girl was treated at Rideout Memorial Hospital for bruised ribs and a knee injury, Pavey said.

Chavez, the girl and two other girls, both 17, started arguing at a party early Sunday at a private residence. Chavez pushed two of the girls down and punched the third several times, causing the injuries, said Pavey.

The girls left the party and called police at 1:56 a.m. from another location, she said.

Officers are looking into circumstances at the party, Pavey said.

Chavez, a standout football player and two-time state qualifier in wrestling for River Valley, was arrested on suspicion of battery causing serious bodily injury, a felony. He was booked into Sutter County Jail and remained there Wednesday. Bail was set at $50,000.

Ron Benton, Chavez's wrestling coach at River Valley, said he has a hard time believing some of what's been said about the case so far.

"I've been around him for four years and I've never seen him lose his temper," Benton said. He added that because Chavez is an athlete, he would've hurt someone far worse than the victims reported if he wanted to do so.

Benton also said that he wants Chavez to have a fair trial in court, and if he did what he's accused of, he should face punishment for it.

"Both sides need to be heard," Benton said.

Tom Zaragoza, River Valley's athletic director, said he had no comment Wednesday evening.

Chavez is scheduled to be arraigned at 3 p.m. today in Sutter County Superior Court, according to the District Attorney's Office.