Salinas Valley State Prison Officials in Soledad are Investigating the September 30 Death of an Inmate as a Homicide

 

SOLEDAD – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are investigating the death of an incarcerated person on Monday, September 30, 2024 at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) in Soledad as a homicide.

At 10:45 a.m., officers were conducting security rounds and approached a cell occupied by 36-year-old Colin Hebert and 38-year-old Jessie Hernandez. The officer observed Hebert unresponsive in his cell, and immediately called for medical assistance.

Life saving measures were initiated and Hebert was pronounced dead at 10:58 a.m. by an institution doctor.

Hernandez has been placed in restricted housing pending an investigation by the SVSP Investigative Services Unit and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office. Officers recovered 1 inmate-manufactured weapon at the scene. The Office of the Inspector General was notified, and the Monterey County Coroner will determine Hebert’s official cause of death.

Hebert was most recently received from Riverside County on June 11, 2013, to serve life without the possibility of parole for attempted first-degree murder with an enhancement for intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury/death and assault with a firearm with enhancements inflicting great bodily injury and use of a firearm. While incarcerated, he received an 8 year sentence from Lassen County on June 28, 2018, for assault with a deadly weapon as a 2nd striker, an in-prison offense.

Hernandez was received from Los Angeles County on July 22, 2004, to serve life with the possibility of parole for 2nd degree murder with an enhancement for use of a firearm and attempted 2nd degree murder with an enhancement for use of a firearm.  While incarcerated, he received a 12-year sentence from Monterey County on April 12, 2023, for assault by a prisoner with a deadly weapon/instrument as a second striker, an in-prison offense.

SVSP opened in 1996 and houses more than 2,500 minimum-, medium-, maximum- and high-security incarcerated persons. SVSP offers academic classes and vocational programs and employs approximately 1,500 people.