Salinas Valley State Prison Officials in Soledad are Investigating the Death of an Inmate on October 14 as a Homicide

 

SOLEDAD – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating the death of an inmate at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) in Soledad on Tuesday night, October 14 as a homicide.

At approximately 5:15 p.m., staff observed inmate 40-year-old Orlando M. Ochoa assaulting inmate 40-year-old Israel M. Mendoza and immediately responded, utilizing chemical agents to stop the attack and restrain Ochoa. Staff began life-saving measures on Mendoza and activated 911. Mendoza was transported to the prison’s triage and treatment area where he was pronounced dead by paramedics at 5:52 p.m.

Ochoa was placed in restricted housing pending an investigation into this case by the SVSP Investigative Services Unit.  

The Office of the Inspector General was notified, and the Monterey County Coroner will determine Mendoza’s official cause of death.

Mendoza was most recently received from Yolo County on Dec. 3, 2015, sentenced to 14 years for corporal injury on a specific person within 7 years of a prior specific conviction and false imprisonment with violence as a second striker.

Ochoa was most recently received from San Bernardino County on Feb. 2, 2006, sentenced to 5 years for second-degree robbery. Los Angeles County also sentenced him on Jan. 7, 2009, to 32 years for voluntary manslaughter and second-degree robbery as a second striker.

SVSP opened in May 1996 in Monterey County. The institution provides long-term housing for approximately 2,400 minimum- and maximum-custody incarcerated individuals and employs about 1,500 staff.