3 Alameda County Deputies Indicted By Grand Jury In Connection With Inmate Death

DUBLIN, CA — An Alameda County grand jury indicted three sheriff’s deputies in connection with the 2021 death of Maurice Monk, an inmate at Santa Rita Jail.

Monk, a 45-year-old man with schizophrenia and diabetes in jail for not wearing a mask on a public bus and missing a court date, died in his cell in November 2021 after allegedly being ignored by staff for several days as his condition visibly deteriorated. He had already been dead for three days when he was finally discovered, lying in his own fluids and surrounded by uneaten meals and medications. Security footage and records showed that staff did little to care for him over the course of several days, like checking his vital signs and giving him his medications.

Monk’s family received $7 million in a settlement with Alameda County, and another $2.5 million from the health care company.

Robinderpal Singh Hayer, Thomas Mowrer, and Donall Rowe were indicted and arraigned Tuesday on charges of dependent elder abuse, Alameda County DA Ursula Jones Dixon said in a news release. Hayer was also indicted and arraigned on felony falsification of official documents, according to the DA.

All three defendants posted bail and are out of custody as of Tuesday.

Former DA Pamela Price initially charged 11 Santa Rita employees with Monk’s death. DA Jones dropped charges for eight employees, including six current and former sheriff’s deputies and two medical clinicians, citing “insufficient evidence.”

It is uncommon for Alameda County district attorneys to seek grand jury indictments against someone who is already criminally charged. Grand jury proceedings are not open to the public, and defense attorneys cannot cross-examine witnesses.

Mower’s attorney Alison Berry Wilkinson told the Bay Area News Group that she finds the move “strange” and “disturbing.” The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment.

SEE ALSO:

• Charges Dropped Against Santa Rita Jail Staff For Inmate Death
  
• Santa Rita Inmate Died After Staff 'Neglect': Lawsuit