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Three of these inmate deaths were convicted murders. Two of the five men who passed away were inmates of the same Nevada prison and passed away within one day of each other.
According to the new release, the five individuals have all passed away within the last month.
46-year-old Charles Walker was being held at the High Desert State Prison in Indian Springs. He was serving a life sentence for first-degree murder and other charges. He passed away on February 1st.
41-year-old Orlando Mays was staying at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City. He passed away on January 25th. Mays was serving out a 36 to 120 months sentence for possession of a controlled substance.
62-year-old Anthony Silveria was staying at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center serving out a 60 to 152 months sentence for committing grand larceny and burglary. He passed away on February 1st.
72-year-old Dennis Kopp was also staying at Northern Nevada Correctional Center. He passed away one day after Silveria on February 2nd. Kopp was serving out a 120 to 300 months sentence for second-degree murder. According to reports, the suspect shot his 64-year-old wife in 2016.
50-year-old John Stinchfield was an inmate at Ely State Prison and passed away on February 5th. He was serving out a 576 months to life sentence with the possibility of parole for both first-degree murder and attempted murder.
The news release did not include any details about how these individuals passed away. As you can imagine, inmates with life sentences are much more likely to spend their last days in a Nevada facility, but it’s not common for someone with a short sentence to pass away under the care of the state.
All inmates, regardless of the reason they’re behind bars, have a right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment, which includes living in dangerous or unsafe conditions. That said, a facility that’s putting an inmate’s life at risk would be considered in violation of the Eight Amendment.
Correctional facilities must provide access to clean air and water, medical care, humane living conditions, and reasonable protection from violence. While these facilities cannot prevent every instance of violence or illness, it’s imperative that every correctional facility takes reasonable care to ensure the safety of inmates to the best of their ability. Facilities that fall short can be held accountable.
If you or a loved one is an inmate and you believe your rights have been violated, then it’s best to consult with a criminal defense attorney about what happened. The right lawyer can help you identify your options under the law. Depending on the situation, you could have the right to pursue a civil claim for compensation. You might also prompt the facility to make the appropriate changes that keep you and other inmates safe.
Schedule a free call with our team now to speak with one of our lawyers about your rights and options as an inmate.
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