8 SoCal Prison Inmates With Violent Histories Named In Fatal Attack

CALIFORNIA — Another deadly attack was reported at a California prison and the melee was allegedly carried out by historically violent inmates. The death marks the fifth this year of an inmate killed by other incarcerated men in Golden State prisons.

Juan Trujillo, 50, was ambushed Monday by eight fellow inmates in a recreational yard at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano and died from his stab injuries, according to a preliminary investigation by authorities.

The violence was spotted around 10:30 a.m. as prison officials witnessed the inmates "striking Trujillo with inmate-manufactured weapons," according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

"Staff orders to stop were ignored," CDCR reported. "Chemical agents were then used to stop the attack."

Once the inmates were restrained, medical staff was summoned to care for Trujillo who had multiple puncture wounds. He was sent to an outside medical facility where he was pronounced dead at approximately 11:41 a.m. Monday, according to CDCR.

Trujillo came to the prison on Feb. 14, 2008. He was sentenced out of Los Angeles County to 29 years for second-degree robbery as a second striker with enhancements for use of a firearm and having a prior felony conviction of a serious offense.

The inmates allegedly involved in the attack were Zackary Holguin from Riverside County, Edwin Perez from Los Angeles County, Kevin Tello from Los Angeles County, Daniel Mendivil from San Bernardino County, Javier Castaneda from San Diego County, Robert Toki from Los Angeles County, Kevin Barrera from Los Angeles County, and Eric Castilleja from Kern County.

CDCR provided the criminal histories of the alleged attackers:

Barrera, 29, came from Los Angeles County on Oct. 12, 2018, to serve 36 years for voluntary manslaughter, attempted second-degree murder, assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, resisting/deterring an officer with threats or violence, and battery on a non-inmate.

Castaneda, 37, came from San Diego County on Jan. 22, 2009, to serve 24 years for attempted voluntary manslaughter, assault with a firearm, second-degree robbery, and second-degree burglary, with enhancements for having a prior felony conviction of a serious offense, use of a firearm, and inflicting great bodily injury. While incarcerated, on Sept. 1, 2021, Castaneda was sentenced to an additional four years for assault by a prisoner with a deadly weapon or force likely to cause great bodily injury as a second striker.

Castilleja, 34, was most recently admitted from Kern County on May 11, 2007, to serve seven years, eight months for discharge of a firearm from a motor vehicle at a person and criminal gang activity. He was released to parole supervision on Dec. 20, 2010. Castilleja returned from parole with a new term on Nov. 15, 2023, to serve life with the possibility of parole for attempted second-degree murder, discharge of a firearm in an inhabited dwelling, vehicle, or aircraft, second-degree robbery, and criminal gang activity, all as a third-striker, with enhancements for intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury or death, street gang activity, and having a prior felony conviction of a serious offense.

Holguin, 25, was most recently admitted from Riverside County on June 17, 2022, to serve 12 years and four months for assault with a deadly weapon with an enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, and possession/ownership of a firearm by a felon or addict, all as a second striker. While incarcerated, on May 1, 2023, Holquin was sentenced to an additional eight years for assault by a prisoner with a deadly weapon or instrument as a second striker.

Mendivil, 45, was most recently admitted from San Bernadino County on Feb. 12, 2020, to serve 11 years for assault with a deadly weapon as a second striker, with an enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury.

Perez, 36, was admitted from Los Angeles County on Feb. 22, 2017, to serve life with the possibility of parole for carjacking and second-degree murder. While incarcerated, on Oct. 29, 2020, Perez was sentenced to an additional 22 years for assault by a prisoner with a deadly weapon or force likely to cause great bodily injury and possession or manufacture of a deadly weapon by a prisoner, both as a second striker. He also received an enhancement for having a prior conviction of a serious offense. On Oct. 17, 2023, Perez was sentenced to an additional four years, eight months for assault by a prisoner with a deadly weapon or instrument and possession or manufacture of a deadly weapon by a prisoner as a second striker.

Kevin Tello, 34, was most recently admitted from Los Angeles County on June 10, 2014, to serve 27 years for second-degree robbery with enhancements for street gang activity in commission of a violent felony and committing a new felony within five years of completing a prior prison term. While incarcerated, on March 10, 2023, Tello was sentenced to serve an additional 15 years for assault by a prisoner with any means of force likely to cause great bodily injury as a second striker, with an enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury.

Toki, 32, was first admitted from Los Angeles County on June 15, 2011, to serve five years, eight months for second-degree robbery and possession of a firearm as an ex-felon. While incarcerated, on June 14, 2012, he was sentenced to an additional four years to be served concurrently, for assault with a firearm as a second striker. He was released to parole supervision on Aug. 29, 2015. Toki returned to CDCR from parole in Los Angeles County with a new term on Feb. 2, 2018, to serve two years for attempted grand theft auto as a second striker. He was discharged to Post-Release Community Supervision on Oct. 16, 2019. Toki was most recently admitted from Kings County on Nov. 12, 2020, to serve 12 years for criminal threat to cause great bodily injury or death as a second striker, battery on a non-prisoner, and possession/manufacture of a deadly weapon by a prisoner. While incarcerated, on Oct. 29, 2020, Toki was sentenced to an additional two years, eight months for assault by a prisoner with a deadly weapon or force likely to cause great bodily injury as a second striker, with an enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury. On Nov. 20, 2023, he was sentenced to serve another year for aggravated battery on a peace officer by gassing.

Two of the alleged attackers, who were not named, were sent to outside medical facilities for injuries sustained in the brawl. No prison staffers or other inmates were injured. It's not clear what motivated the killing.

Kern Valley State Prison opened in 2005 and houses over 3,100 minimum-, medium- and high-security inmates. It is more than double the number of employees working at the prison. According to CDCR, 1,500 people are employed at the state institution though it's unclear what their roles are.

Since the start of 2024, several incidents — many deadly — were reported in California prisons.

Eight corrections officers and an incarcerated man were injured in a riot involving around 200 inmates in the recreational yard of Ironwood State Prison in Blythe. The violence erupted around 10 a.m. as officers were escorting an inmate across the yard as part of a contraband investigation at the facility, CDCR reported.

While no deaths were immediately reported, that was not the case in other recent California prison confrontations.

On Feb. 3, an inmate was allegedly attacked and killed by two inmates at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego County.

On Jan. 24, an inmate was allegedly killed by his cellmate at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga.

Two inmates allegedly attacked and killed another on Jan. 7 using homemade weapons at Centinela State Prison in Imperial County.

On Jan. 6, an inmate was found dead in his cell at Salinas Valley State Prison and investigators determined it was a homicide.

Additionally, one inmate was fatally shot by authorities on Jan. 25 at High Desert State Prison in Susanville as he allegedly stabbed another inmate with a homemade weapon. The stabbing victim survived.