Kern Valley State Prison – On September 19, 2024, at 1920 hours, staff discovered Inmate Jacob Kober unresponsive in his cell with his cellmate Inmate Matthew Perez. Staff initiated lifesaving efforts and called for assistance. Kober has several injuries consistent with being stabbed with an inmate-manufactured weapon. At 1952 hours, Inmate Kober was pronounced dead.
Perez also appeared to have suffered injuries consistent with an inmate-manufactured weapon. He was alert and taken to an outside medical facility for a higher level of care.
An inmate-manufactured weapon was found at the scene.
The incident is currently under investigation by KVSP Investigative Services Unit, and the Kern County District Attorney’s Office. The Office of the Inspector General was notified, and the Kern County Coroner will determine Kober’s official cause of death.
Kober, 35, was received from Alameda County on April 28, 2005, sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, a second-strike offense, with an enhancement for intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury/death.
Perez, 39, was most recently received from Monterey County on May 7, 2012, sentenced to 18 years for assault with a firearm, a second-strike offense, with enhancements for street gang act in commission of a violent felony and use of a firearm. In 2014, while in prison he was sentenced to eight years for assault by a prisoner with a deadly weapon or force likely to cause great bodily injury. In 2016, he was sentenced to two years for possession of a controlled substance while in prison.
Kern Valley State Prison had a busy past few days leading up to this murder:
On September 15, 2024 Inmate Raul Lafita was found with an inmate-manufactured weapon on his person.
On September 15, 2024, at 1840 hours, Inmates Jessie Sambrano and Agustin Virto were observed attempting to murder Inmate Joel Vasquez with an inmate-manufactured weapon. Staff were required to use force to stop the attack.
On September 17, 2024, at 1050 hours, Inmates Jose Hernandez and Jesus Zumaya were observed battering Inmate Pedro Alvarez. Staff were required to use force to stop the attack.
On September 18, 2024, at 0944 hours, several inmates were observed fighting each other on the recreation yard. Staff were required to use force to stop the large fight. After the fight, staff discovered an inmate-manufactured weapon and handcuff key.
On September 18, 2024, at 1430 hours, Inmates Allen Gonzalez and Josua Reyes were observed attempting to murder inmate Aaron Gallardo using inmate-manufactured weapons. Staff were required to use force to stop the attempted murder.
On September 19, 2024, at about 1030 hours, there was another large fight on the yard. Several use of force options were needed to stop this riot. After this riot 15 inmate-manufactured weapons were recovered from where the inmates were rioting.
On September 19, 2024, at about 1059 hours, several inmates were observing fighting inside of a housing unit requiring staff to use force to stop the attack.
On September 19, 2024, an inmate-manufactured weapon was found in a cell occupied by two inmates.
On September 19, 2024, at about 1710 hours, a correctional officer was assaulted by Inmate Angel Banuelos.
On September 19, 2024, at about 1920 hours, Inmate Jacob Kober is found murdered.
On September 19, 2024, later in the evening, Inmate Christan Bagsby battered a CDCR nurse. Several staff members were required to use force to stop the attack.
With all the violence leading up to the murder, including a riot, the normal course of action would be to modify prison program until a threat assessment can be completed. With the impact of the California Model being forced down administrators’ throats, many prison managers are too quick to call an incident “isolated” and continue normal program. The concepts behind the California Model agenda pushed by CDCR administrators are replacing good/safe prison management and are getting people hurt. CDCR needs to drop the California Model trash and figure out how to safely run a prison.
thetoughestbeat