Ex-Jail Guard Jailed for Inmate Assault Aid

Francisco Izayas Castillo, a former Santa Clara County jail guard, was sentenced on May 19 to 45 days in county jail after prosecutors said he helped two inmates attack another inmate at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas in 2022, then tried to hide what happened. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen’s office said Castillo, 42, of Morgan Hill, had been convicted of a misdemeanor in March. Prosecutors said the attack happened after Castillo gave the inmates tacit approval, opened the victim’s cell and watched as the beating unfolded. Castillo is scheduled to return to court on June 9 at 8:30 a.m. for remand into custody. ### How did prosecutors say the assault was set up? September 21, 2022 is the date prosecutors gave for the assault inside Elmwood’s men’s jail. Rosen’s office said two inmates told Castillo about their plan roughly 30 minutes before the attack during a meeting at his desk, and that Castillo told them to “handle it.” (da.santaclaracounty.gov) Moments before the assault, prosecutors said, one attacker took rubber gloves from Castillo’s desk and pointed toward the victim’s cell. Rosen’s office said Castillo then used his control panel to open the cell, allowing two inmates to rush in while a third stood outside. Prosecutors said the victim was punched and kicked for about 30 seconds. (da.santaclaracounty.gov) ### What did Castillo do after the beating? Several minutes after the attack, the victim pressed his cell’s emergency call button, according to the district attorney’s office. Prosecutors said the alert turned on a green light outside the cell and sent repeated pings through the housing module. (da.santaclaracounty.gov) Castillo was the only deputy in the module at the time, prosecutors said. Rosen’s office said he silenced the emergency notification, turned off the light, approached the cell without activating his body-worn camera and did not request medical aid after the victim asked for help. Prosecutors also said Castillo later met with the attackers to “concoct a plan” to keep the assault quiet. (da.santaclaracounty.gov) ### How was the incident uncovered? A correctional officer on the next shift found that the inmate had injuries and started an investigation, prosecutors said. Rosen’s office said the assault had not been reported by Castillo. The next day, prosecutors said, Castillo removed the two attackers from their jail trustee jobs in what the district attorney’s office described as a last attempt to shield himself from accountability. (da.santaclaracounty.gov) The three inmates involved in the assault were also charged and convicted, according to CBS News Bay Area’s report citing prosecutors. ### What did prosecutors and the defense say after sentencing? Jeff Rosen, the Santa Clara County district attorney, said in a statement that “Correctional officers are sworn to protect the public and the inmates.” Rosen added that Castillo “betrayed the public, betrayed the inmates, and betrayed the badge,” and said his office would hold “corrupt correctional officers” accountable. (da.santaclaracounty.gov) Nelson McElmurry, Castillo’s lawyer, told KQED that Castillo plans to appeal and seek a stay. “He maintains his innocence and intends to fight as long as is necessary,” McElmurry said. ### What happens next in the case? June 9 is Castillo’s next scheduled court date, according to the district attorney’s office and KQED. (da.santaclaracounty.gov) Prosecutors said he must report at 8:30 a.m. for remand into custody to begin serving the 45-day sentence imposed in Santa Clara County Superior Court. (kqed.org)