SVSP in Soledad is investigating death of inmate

SOLEDAD – A news release put out by the Salinas Valley State Prison reports (SVSP) that officials are investigating the death of an inmate as a homicide. At around 11:05am on Tuesday, February 13, staff members were performing security checks, and observed 26-year-old inmate George Argueta, lying on the floor in his cell. An alarm was sounded and responding staff immediately removed Argueta from the cell and began administering life-saving measures. 1 suspect was also removed from the cell without incident, and 1 inmate-manufactured weapon was recovered at the scene. Argueta sustained multiple stab wounds to his upper chest. Argueta later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 11:26am. 38-year-old inmate Jacob Castro, has been named as a suspect and is being held in the Salinas Valley State Prison’s Administrative Investigation Unit as the incident is investigated. The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office is assisting in the investigation. The Office of the Inspector General was notified. Argueta was received by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) on August 22, 2012, from Santa Cruz County to serve a 12-year sentence for 1 count of 2nd degree robbery with use of a firearm and was scheduled for parole in 2024. Castro was received by the CDCR on September 27, 2013, from Alameda County to serve 25 years to life with the possibility of parole for 1st degree murder. In January of 2015, Castro was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon on an inmate and sentenced to an additional 8 years.