2 Inland Empire inmates linked to murder in California prison, others questioned

CALIFORNIA – Two inmates – 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 the death of 29-year-old inmate David Dominguez at the Kern County facility is being investigated as a homicide.

The investigation began around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday when Wasco prison staff saw Dominguez being physically supported by other inmates in the facility's common room.

Dominguez allegedly told staff that he had a seizure and fell.

According to CDCR, Dominguez was taken to a triage and treatment area and an ambulance was called while life-saving measures were performed. However, Dominguez was pronounced dead by a paramedic at 4:07 p.m. that same day.

He was transferred from San Diego County on October 4, 2023, and sentenced to three years in prison for extortion by force or threat and assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, plus aggravated charges for violating the street gang rule.

According to the CDCR, Dominguez's death was not an accident. A later review of the prison's audio and video surveillance system reportedly showed inmates Jose Landeros and Michael S. Padilla entering Dominguez's cell and “engaging in a physical altercation,” prison officials said.

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

Padilla, 37, was last admitted from San Bernardino County on May 25, 2023, and sentenced to 22 years in prison for intoxicated manslaughter, a repeat offense, with aggravated charges for fleeing the scene of a crime and a prior felony conviction.

Following Sunday's incident, both inmates were placed in solitary confinement.

In addition to Landeros and Padilla, inmates Robert Rubalcava, Leonel A. Torres, Zakary W. White and Mario Aguillon were also placed on probation pending the completion of the investigation. It is unclear whether and to what extent they were involved in the case.

Rubalcava, 40, was last admitted from San Bernardino County on September 29, 2023, and sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempted premeditated murder as a second offender, with enhanced charges for use of a firearm and a street gang offense.

Torres, 40, was admitted from Santa Barbara County on November 8, 2019, and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder.

White, 27, was last booked from Riverside County on February 1, 2024. He was sentenced to six years in prison for auto theft after previously being convicted of auto theft.

Aguillon, 37, was picked up from Los Angeles County on February 2, 2005, and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder. On November 15, 2013, Sacramento County sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole for assault, a second offense, with a sentencing enhancement due to a prior felony conviction.

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