Jail Staff Not at Fault for Inmate Suicide, Court Rules

Sonoma County jail staff are not at fault for the death of an inmate who committed suicide in September, Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch said.

Michael Lee Molgard, 34, climbed over the railing on the second floor of the jail and leaped head-first to his death with his hands at his side on Sept. 8, Ravitch said. He died at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

He ignored orders from a corrections officer and pleas from inmates to get down from the railing, Ravitch said.

Molgard indicated on Sept. 7 that he was having suicidal thoughts, and he was repeatedly and routinely checked, evaluated, interviewed and assessed over the next 24 hours by mental health staff and a staff psychiatrist in a separate safety cell, Ravitch said.

Molgard denied further suicidal thoughts and was released back into regular housing at the jail on Sept. 8 after a psychiatrist's examination and authorization.

He also agreed to notify staff if he had feelings of suicide and agreed to take medication for stress and anxiety, Ravitch said.

The District Attorney's Office reviewed the jail death and determined the jail's mental health staff's conduct was not wanton, reckless nor careless, Ravitch said.

"Sometimes, despite the best mental health care, an individual may have an overwhelming will or desire to commit suicide and may be able to successfully mask their ideation from others and act upon it," Ravitch said.

"Under those facts, the duped individuals cannot be proven to have acted negligently ... (and) there was no evidence to demonstrate criminal negligence by any other person in Mr. Mogard's suicide," Ravitch said.

Molgard, an Arizona resident, was arrested Sept. 5 after a traffic stop for pepper-spraying a deputy in the face. He was arrested for battery on a peace officer and other charges and on a felony warrant out of Arizona.

Article by Alexis Fitts and Bay City News. Copyright © 2011 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.