Two former Alameda County sheriff’s deputies were sentenced Wednesday to prison for their role in the “gassing” of inmates at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin in 2016.
Justin Linn of Tracy and Erik McDermott of Concord were each sentenced to four years and four months in prison for facilitating the “gassing,” which involves the throwing of bodily fluids such as feces and urine, on another person.
Prosecutors said Linn and McDermott’s position of authority facilitated the attacks by two inmates on at least five other inmates in Housing Unit 2.
“These former deputies directed, facilitated, enabled and committed sadistic and terrorizing acts against several men whose protection fell directly within the responsibility of their positions as correctional officers,” District Attorney Nancy O’Malley said in a statement.
“The conduct of these defendants violated the law and there was no rational explanation for their actions aside from abject cruelty and a disregard for the humanity of the inmates,” O’Malley added.
Linn and McDermott pleaded guilty to each of the 11 counts prosecutors charged them with, including 10 counts of assault by a public officer. One count was for dissuading a witness by threat or force.
The inmates who conducted the gassing at the direction of Linn and McDermott would receive special treatment from the then-deputies. Special treatment might include extra food, supplies and extra time outside their pod.
Deputy District Attorney Tim Wagstaffe said the incidents were “foul” and the former deputies’ behavior “egregious,” following his prosecution of the case.
In a similar but separate case, former sheriff’s deputies Sarah Krause and Stephen Sarcos each pleaded no contest in January 2020 to charges stemming from the gassing other inmates.
Krause pleaded no contest to felony assault under the color of authority and received five years of probation and 240 hours of community service.
Sarcos pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge and received three years of probation and 180 hours of community service.
Linn and McDermott are expected to surrender Aug. 25 at the East County Hall of Justice in Dublin.
I’ve long heard on the streets that Santa Rita jail is the worst in the Bay Area. They treat you like second class citizens it’s like Guantanamo. Whereas west county jail in Richmond you get a key to your own room, good food, movie nights every Saturday and about at least 9 hours a day of TV/ social time. And because it’s in Richmond it doesn’t get too hot. There’s no AC in jail I can’t imagine Santa Rita jail at 110 degrees.
@ Schmee
The old Santa Rita, which closed over 25 years ago, did not have air conditioning. Not for the inmates and not for the deputies working the Compound, Woman’s Quarters, or Graystone so cry me a river. I have personal experience of being out in the extreme elements while working at SRJ.
Minimum and Medium security housing units all had TVs and “social time” in their barracks which ran 24/7. Maximum, Graystone was the only location that restricted the TV to dayrooms and had no “social time” since everyone there was in Administrative Segregation.
The new Santa Rita has all the modern conveniences to include air conditioning and TVs but sorry, it isn’t the Holiday Inn – no keys for inmates.
If by treating people like inmates equates to treating them like second class citizens then you are absolutely right. Your movements and activities are closely regulated. Sorry no social media or twittering. You are, after all, in jail and not on a paid vacation.
I don’t condone this behavior of “gassing”. Inmates have been gassing deputies for decades, doesn’t make it right, but I hope charges are a two way street in the future.
And for all you liberals, it takes a lot of effort to be put in jail or prison in California (you have to be a POS).
I don’t know why anyone would go into law enforcement. You are vilified for keeping people safe. The liberals do not want criminals held accountable. They are the party Of enablement.
RECALL NEWSOME!!!! If you want California to improve. It won’t happen overnight. It’s going to take years to fix what the demorats have done. Racalling NEWSOME is a step in the right direction
Biden is supporting Newsom too…
Weak minds think alike.
Sounds like yet another civil lawsuit in the making, putting County Taxpayers on the hook for people that should have nothing to do with law enforcement. Am so tired of these clowns costing taxpayers a fortune!
Hard to believe. Why would anyone do something like that? I could see it if they were politicians but not inmates.
I’m pleased that the DA prosecuted these ex deputies. Too many abuse their power. Damn scary.
I been asked if I support police and my answer is the good ones yes, the ones that do not honor their oath I have zero respect for them as they deserve zero respect. It is the bad officers get the good ones hurt or killed.
So, the deputies gave back what inmates have given deputies for decades.
But it’s only a crime if the deputies do it.
Makes sense.
…if this case was in Co Co County, they would have in a World of Hurt!
The Co Co County DA would probably pee herself if given the opportunity to charge some LEO’s…
So what you are saying is that we should expect deputies to be no better than criminals?
Inmates get charged and prosecuted while in jail ALL the time. Not really news worthy unless its out of the ordinary. Deputies are supposed to maintain order and civility, thats what our taxes pay them to do.
Just playing devil’s advocate. Gassing is already a felony in California. So, the deputies facilitated a felony and received probation and community service. That’s a hell of a lot more punishment than Antifa and BLM regularly receive.
Used to take inmates out to the ramp for attitude adjustment.
108RS
We need to empty out our jails and empty out our prisons across the United States I say it’s a good time to do that we can drop them off in Afghanistan and let the Taliban take care of them. On the way back bring back some Afghan’s and some Americans.
Them we don’t have to worry about defunding the police.
@ TMAC ~ Well, those prisons will need to be fumigated …. we could do it Biden style and fumigate it first, then transport all the prisoners out afterwards.