VERNAL — A Roosevelt man is in critical condition after deputies say he was severely beaten by two people.

Ramos Ray Cesspooch, 27, is expected to survive the assault, said Uintah County Sheriff's Cpl. Brian Fletcher, but may have sustained some degree of permanent injury.

"It will be several days before they can determine whether he's sustained brain damage, and to what extent," Fletcher said.

Deputies were called at 7:30 a.m. Monday to an area in southwest Uintah County on a report of a man who had been beaten and left unconscious by the side of the road, according to Fletcher.

Cesspooch was taken to a local hospital and later airlifted to a Salt Lake area hospital.

Witnesses told detectives about an altercation that occurred between Cesspooch and Keith Blackhair, 24, of Roosevelt.

"At some point during the altercation, detectives believe Cesspooch was kicked in the head," Fletcher said, adding that authorities believe Blackhair and Rosa Ontiveros, 18, of Myton, each kicked Cesspooch in the head while he lay on the ground.

Blackhair and Ontiveras were both booked into jail for investigation of aggravated assault, Fletcher said. The other two people with Blackhair and Ontiveros at the time of the incident were also arrested on misdemeanor charges and outstanding warrants, he said.

— Geoff Liesik