Sheriff's Department Confesses Booking Mistake Leading to Inmate's Death at Banning Jail

Overview of the Grand Jury Report and Sheriff’s Response

On Tuesday, July 29, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a response to a grand jury report that highlighted critical flaws in the sheriff's booking system. The report specifically pointed out that errors in the system played a role in the tragic death of an inmate at the Banning jail in 2024. The report was issued by a civil grand jury, which is composed of citizens tasked with examining public agencies and suggesting improvements. Unlike criminal grand juries, these groups do not have the authority to bring charges against individuals.

The sheriff's department, led by Undersheriff Donald Sharp, responded to the findings. While some aspects of the report were accepted, others were challenged. Sharp emphasized that the department had already implemented several changes recommended by the grand jury. One significant point of agreement was the acknowledgment that there was no continuous improvement process in place to track and correct mistakes. In response, the department introduced an electronic database in mid-May to record booking and processing errors, aiming to identify their causes and prevent future occurrences.

The Incident Leading to the Grand Jury Investigation

The grand jury’s investigation stemmed from the stabbing death of Steve Gonzalez, a 36-year-old man from Moreno Valley, at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility. The perpetrator, Scott Shelby Lowder, had been booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center under a false name. At the time, the sheriff’s department noted delays in receiving reports from Livescan, the electronic fingerprint-identification service. The business office at Presley failed to update the booking system with new information from Livescan, leading to a misclassification of Lowder.

Jailers believed Lowder was someone else with a record of serving 30 days in jail for making criminal threats and brandishing a firearm. He was classified as a nonviolent, “medium” risk to other inmates. However, Lowder actually had a 35-year criminal history that included over 10 years in prison. He should have been classified as a higher-risk inmate. As a result, he was placed in a print shop with medium-risk inmates when transferred to the Banning jail. On September 5, he killed Gonzalez. Lowder was then reclassified to “maximum” risk, the second-highest classification.

Sheriff’s Department Revisions and Ongoing Concerns

Lowder has pleaded not guilty to murder and three other charges. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 9. The sheriff’s response addressed several of the grand jury’s findings, including the use of profiling tools, training methods, and subjectivity in housing decisions. Sharp stated that the department revised its policy on housing classifications in March. Now, if an inmate cannot be positively identified, staff will delay placement until the inmate is identified through Livescan.

Additionally, the department changed vague wording such as “may,” “can,” and “such as” in several policies to clarify that actions were required. An Integrated Biometric Information System machine, which assists with identifications, was not functioning when Lowder was booked but is now operational. The department has also acted on recommendations to provide clearer instructions on confirming Livescan reports, revise policies in the booking and business office, and upgrade the jail management system, which Sharp said should be accomplished by 2027.

Sharp expressed that the sheriff’s office believes there was a single error that contributed to the incident, rather than the cumulative findings contained within the report.

Public Reaction and Future Steps

Despite the approval of the sheriff’s response, the public had no opportunity to comment during the board meeting. However, many individuals later addressed Supervisor Jose Medina’s proposal to create a committee to explore establishing an oversight board for the Sheriff’s Department. This proposal reflects ongoing concerns about accountability and transparency within the department.

The sheriff, Chad Bianco, continues to face scrutiny over the deaths of inmates, which he has largely attributed to the actions of the inmates themselves. State Attorney General Rob Bonta is investigating the department’s practices, a probe that Bianco, now a declared candidate for governor, has called a political stunt. The ongoing investigations and public discussions highlight the need for continued reform and oversight in the sheriff’s department.