Authorities said a former sheriff’s deputy was accused on Monday of throwing hot water on a mentally ill inmate at a Southern California prison this year, causing first- and second-degree burns, but did not receive treatment for more than six hours.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office said in a press conference that Guadalupe Ortiz, the former Orange County Sheriff’s deputy, was charged with two felonies-assault or assault by a public official. As well as beatings causing serious bodily injuries.

The DA office stated that Ortiz was a 22-year veteran in the department, 19 of which served as deputy and was fired on Friday.

In a statement, the District Attorney Todd Spitzer accused Ortiz of “depressing mentally ill prisoners for causing unnecessary harm”.

The prisoner has not been identified.

The DA office stated that the incident occurred on April 1, when Ortiz was working in Santa Ana prison, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles.

The release said that after the prisoner refused to obey his deputy’s order to remove his hand from the hatch of the door, Ortiz and the second deputy offered to help. The prosecutor’s office said that when the prisoner refused again, Ortiz poured a glass from the water heater and poured it on the prisoner’s hand.

More than six hours later, the prisoner-whose arm was peeling off-sought medical help from another deputy.

The Sheriff’s Department stated in a statement that it has investigated the incident and requested the DA Office to consider the allegations.

The statement added that Ortiz's actions were "isolated incidents."

Efforts to reach Ortiz on Monday were unsuccessful. It is unclear whether he has a lawyer; online court records do not list one.

The union representing the Orange County Sheriff did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

If found guilty, Ortiz will face up to four years in prison and is scheduled to be summoned on January 11.

Tim Stelloh is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.

Andrew Blankstein is an investigative reporter for NBC News. He is responsible for work in the western United States, specializing in crime, courts, and homeland security.