Three California jail officers face 15 years to life after being convicted Thursday of the 2015 murder of a mentally ill Main South Jail inmate, Mercury News reports.
The three officers, Jereh Lubrin, Matthew Farris, and Rafael Rodriguez were convicted of fatally beating Michael Tyree, who died of his wounds after the assault. The two-month trial has been the focus of many jail reform talks in California regarding how much force guards can justifiably use against inmates.
“Unfortunately, we can’t bring Michael Tyree back, but we will hold these people accountable,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said after the verdict was read. “Everyone is entitled to be treated like a human being, whether they are a banker, law enforcement officer, or inmate.”
Prosecutor Matt Braker said during the trial that the three officers viciously beat Tyree after the bipolar man had snapped at a jail nurse earlier in the day. The officers were also charged but not convicted of assaulting another mentally ill inmate, Juan Villa.
The defense brought forward several expert medical witnesses who testified that some of Tyree’s injuries were consistent with merely falling onto his cell’s metal sink and that there was a possible suicide note written on the cell’s wall, KRON 4 News reported.
All three officers denied using any force against Tyree. During the trial, however, Braker cited text messages from Farris referring to inmates being “kicked,” “slapped,” and “beaten down.” Braker also cited a Google search from Rodriguez just a day after Tyree’s death: “Can you die if someone punches you in the armpit?”
In the wake of Tyree’s murder, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office launched a civilian-led commission to investigate the county’s jails. The commission resulted in cameras being added to cover most areas of the jail in question. Some argue that this isn’t enough, however, and are advocating for an inspector general to oversee the jails, which are currently supervised by the sheriff.
Sheriff Laurie Smith told Mercury News that while she stands by her deputies, she is open to reform.
“This tragic incident has served as a catalyst in our ongoing progressive efforts within our custody bureau,” Smith said.
(Editor’s note: This post has been updated.)
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.