<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0iwYZ4_0w3HK4hT00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0iwYZ4_0w3HK4hT00" width="800" height="500" ></figure>A Lassen County jury has convicted inmates Douglas Leon and Roger Vasquez of first-degree murder in the 2019 killing of another inmate at High Desert State Prison. The verdict was reached this week, with the jury also finding true the special circumstance that Leon had previously been convicted of first-degree murder in 2011. Additionally, the jury determined that both Leon and Vasquez intentionally killed the victim by lying in wait.The victim in the 2019 murder was Edgardo Herrera. He was attacked on November 27, 2019, between the general population yards of Facility D. Despite life-saving efforts by prison staff, Herrera was pronounced dead later that day at an outside hospital. The attack involved inmate-manufactured weapons, and both attackers were placed in segregated housing following the incident.Sentencing for the two inmates will be scheduled at a later date.The District Attorney’s Office noted this case is the 21st jury trial presented by the District Attorney’s Office since January and the second of five cases slated for October, all while the office continues to manage its regular court calendar. Despite the workload, a request for an additional attorney this fiscal year was denied during the budget process.The murder case was investigated by High Desert State Prison and prosecuted by Special Prosecutor Jordan Funk. The District Attorney’s Office expressed gratitude to the jury for their service and deliberation.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

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Lassen County Jury Convicts Two Inmates of 2019 Murder at High Desert State Prison

A Lassen County jury has convicted inmates Douglas Leon and Roger Vasquez of first-degree murder in the 2019 killing of another inmate at High Desert State Prison. The verdict was reached this week, with the jury also finding true the special circumstance that Leon had previously been convicted of first-degree murder in 2011. Additionally, the jury determined that both Leon and Vasquez intentionally killed the victim by lying in wait.