2 Inland Empire Inmates Linked To CA Prison Killing, Others Questioned

CALIFORNIA — Two prisoners — one from Riverside County, the other from San Bernardino County — are suspected of killing a fellow inmate at Wasco State Prison, authorities announced Monday.

Officials with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said that the death of 29-year-old inmate David Dominguez at the Kern County facility is being investigated as a homicide.

The investigation began at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday when Wasco prison staff saw Dominguez being physically supported by other inmates in the facility's dayroom.

Dominguez allegedly told the staffers he had a seizure and fell.

Dominguez was transported to a triage and treatment area, and an ambulance was summoned while life-saving measures were performed, according to CDCR. Dominguez, however, was pronounced dead by a paramedic at 4:07 p.m. the same day.

He was received from San Diego County on Oct. 4, 2023, sentenced to three years for extortion by means of force or threat and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, with enhancements for a street gang act.

Dominguez's death was not an accident, according to CDCR. A subsequent review of a prison audio-video surveillance system allegedly showed inmates Jose Landeros and Michael S. Padilla entering Dominguez’s cell and "engaging in a physical altercation," prison officials said.

Landeros, 27, was received from Riverside County on March 6, 2020, sentenced to 16 years for second-degree robbery with an enhancement for use of a firearm. He was also sentenced by Kern County on Jan. 5, 2022, to three years, four months for second-degree robbery, assault with a firearm and false imprisonment with violence.

Padilla, 37, was most recently received from San Bernardino County on May 25, 2023, sentenced to 22 years for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, a second-strike offense, with enhancements for fleeing the scene and for a prior felony conviction of a serious offense.

Following Sunday's incident, both inmates were placed in restricted housing.

In addition to Landeros and Padilla, inmates Robert Rubalcava, Leonel A. Torres, Zakary W. White and Mario Aguillon were also placed in restricted housing pending the investigation. It's unclear what their involvement, if any, was.

Rubalcava, 40, was most recently received from San Bernardino County on Sept. 29, 2023, sentenced to 14 years for attempted second-degree murder as a second striker, with enhancements for use of a firearm and street gang act.

Torres, 40, was received from Santa Barbara County on Nov. 8, 2019, sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for second-degree murder.

White, 27, was most recently received from Riverside County on Feb. 1, 2024, sentenced to six years for vehicle theft with prior vehicle-related theft convictions as a second striker.

Aguillon, 37, was received from Los Angeles County on Feb. 2, 2005, sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder. On Nov. 15, 2013, Sacramento County sentenced him to life with the possibility of parole for an in-prison offense of assault, a second-strike offense, with an enhancement for a prior felony conviction of a serious offense.

Wasco State Prison opened in 1991 and houses approximately 3,300 inmates and employs about 1,470 staff.