Eastern District of California Blog

EDCA Lawsuit Filed Over Fresno County Jail Inmate Death

Six months ago, 19-year-old Lorenzo Herrera was strangled inside his cell in the Fresno County Jail, a killing that remains unsolved today.

The Reedley man had no criminal record when he was arrested in January this year on burglary and gun charges. Yet he was housed with the county’s most hardened, violent criminals, according to a federal civil rights lawsuit filed Thursday by his parents, Carlos and Anna Herrera.

He was found dead in his cell on March 24 around lunchtime.

In their wrongful death lawsuit, the Herreras contend in U.S. District Court in Fresno that the Sheriff’s Office is to blame for their son’s death because the jail is understaffed with correctional officers, making it a dangerous place, not just for inmates but for guards, too.

Fresno Bee, 9/20/18

Former Fresno County Jail Doctor Accused of Negligence by Medical Board

The California Medical Board has accused a doctor who provided care at the Fresno County Jail with repeated negligent acts, including denying a wheelchair to an inmate who could not walk.

The medical board investigation found Dr. Michelle A. Thomas negligent in the care of five patients she saw at the jail in 2014 and 2015. If the accusations are upheld, the board could reprimand Thomas, place her on probation or revoke her medical license.

Fresno Bee, 10/9/17

Pipe-Bomb Suspect Dies In Custody At Fresno County Jail

The Merced Sun-Star reports that pipe-bomb suspect Richard Wilson Key, Jr., died while in custody at the Fresno County Jail last month.

Order Suspending Fresno Jail Cases Due To Flu Extended Through Friday

Yesterday, out of an abundance of caution, Judge O'Neill continued the order suspending cases with defendants housed at the Fresno jail due to the flu through the end of this week.  It is expected that no further suspension will be necessary.

Flu Prompts Suspension Of Some Fresno Federal Cases

A judge has ordered a week-long suspension of federal criminal proceedings involving inmates in Fresno because of a growing flu outbreak at the Fresno County Jail.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill issued the order late Tuesday afternoon, saying he was doing so "in order to assure the health and safety" of judges, court staff, attorneys and the public.

O'Neill's order noted that one county jail inmate has died of flu complications and another who appeared in federal court last week has now been diagnosed with H1N1 influenza. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office said it has quarantined hundreds of inmates to try to prevent influenza A from spreading.

Fresno Bee, 1/14/13

Fresno Jail Needs An Overhaul

In light of the report confirming that Fresno County jail needs an overhaul, see Fresno Bee, 3/18/13, it is not surprising that the non-profit Prison Law Office has sued a number of counties, including Fresno, over the overcrowded conditions of confinement at local jails.   

The Prison Law Office's lawsuit against Fresno County alleges that its inmates are routinely denied treatment for physical or mental illness or dental problems, and are vulnerable to attacks from other inmates because of the jail's poor design and lack of staffing. Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said she could not discuss conditions because of the settlement talks.

KQED Blog, 3/19/13.

Fresno EDCA Escapee Still On The Lam

Federal authorities are asking for the public's help in finding a suspected marijuana dealer who remains on the loose after escaping custody while undergoing medical treatment at a Central Valley health care facility.

Thanousone Volarat was receiving treatment at Fresno's Community Home Infusion Center last Monday when he was seen getting into a red, newer model Honda sedan that drove away from the facility, U.S. Marshal's Deputy Tim Merrell said Sunday. He was wearing a red jumpsuit.

Volarat was being held in the Fresno County Jail and was escorted to the medical center for his treatments by Fresno County deputies. He walked out the back door of the facility.

Fresno Bee, 3/5/13

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/03/03/3196810/feds-look-for-escaped-suspected.html#storylink=cpy

Fresno County Earmarks $3 Million To Open Last Jail Floor

After years of seeing jail space lost to budget cuts, Fresno County administrators say they have the money to reopen the last of three shuttered jail floors.

Opening the floor would bring the 3,478-person lockup to within 200 beds of capacity, a huge upgrade from two years ago when just 2,000 beds were in use at the downtown facility.

"We'll be able to hold more people that need to be in jail," said Sheriff Margaret Mims, who has long struggled with too little jail space and now regularly releases dozens of criminals early each day.

County administrators this week earmarked $3 million to reopen 432 beds in January through the end of the fiscal year in June. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to approve the expenditure Tuesday.

Fresno Bee, 10/31/12

400 New Beds Fill Quickly At Fresno County Jail

The more than 400 new beds that opened at the Fresno County Jail this month filled up in just 10 days, once again leaving the jail at full capacity and inmates being released early.

The speed at which the extra space was filled is an indication of the uphill battle that public-safety leaders face trying to lock up criminals.

While jail capacity has increased by nearly 50% over the past year to 2,859 slots, inmates continue to be let go early because of a lack of room -- and lack of money to make more room.

Fresno County supervisors have committed to financing another 432 jail beds, likely at the start of next year, but even then law enforcement leaders wonder whether that will be enough to accommodate the criminal load.

Sheriff Margaret Mims continues to look at contracting space at the county jails. County probation officers have begun offering alternatives to jail, such as GPS monitoring.

"We could never lock everybody up," Chief Probation Officer Linda Penner said. "We just don't have the resources, so we have to have other interventions."

Fresno Bee, 9/28/12

Class Action Challenges Conditions In Fresno County Jail

In this Hall v. Mims, No. 11-2047-LJO, Class Action Civil Complaint,

Four prisoners are suing the Fresno Jail, claiming dangerous conditions, lack of health care and unusual punishment.

The class action lawsuit was filed Tuesday in federal court. It claims Fresno Sheriff Margaret Mims is violating the prisoners' constitutional rights by denying them treatment for life-threatening illnesses, severe mental health symptoms and serious dental problems.

The suit also alleges prisoners are subjected to violence due to preventable defects in the jail's design, operation and staffing.

Fresno Bee, 12/13/11