Desert Hot Springs man serving life in prison accused of killing fellow inmate

A Desert Hot Springs man serving 17 years to life behind bars for trying to kill his father by severely beating him and setting fire to his mobile home is under investigation today for allegedly killing a fellow inmate at Salinas Valley State Prison.

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Miguel A. Espino, 31, allegedly attacked another inmate around 10:30 a.m. Monday at the prison in Soledad in Monterey County.

Corrections officers "quickly stopped" the attack, and "recovered one inmate-manufactured weapon at the scene," according to the department. The target of the attack, Michael Spengler, 38, was pronounced dead at 11:08 a.m. Monday.

Espino was convicted in November by a jury in Banning of attempted murder, arson, aggravated mayhem and sentence-enhancing weapon allegations for the Aug. 7, 2018, attack on his father, Arturo Espino Sr., at the father's mobile home in the 15-600 block of Palm Drive in Desert Hot Springs.

Prosecutors said Espino, who had a history of violent clashes with his father, attacked Arturo Espino Sr. with a hammer, beating him on the head and inflicting major trauma. When the father fell to the floor unconscious, Miguel Espino grabbed a pile of clothes and used flammable liquids in the residence to set them ablaze in the hallway.

Neighbors spotted the smoke and rushed into the burning structure, containing the fire with an extinguisher and calling 911. The elder Espino survived, and his son was arrested the following day.

According to CDCR, Espino was placed in restrictive housing following Monday's fatal attack behind bars, pending an investigation by the SVSP Investigative Services Unit and the Monterey County District Attorney's Office.

Spengler was sentenced in Los Angeles County in 2022 to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the Jan. 9, 2013, slaying of 32-year-old Michael Meza of Pomona and the Feb. 16, 2013, killing of 26-year-old Marcus Nieto of Azusa.

"Both murders appear to have been surprise ambushes of the defendant's friends," Superior Court Judge Henry J. Hall said during Spengler's sentencing hearing. "They appear to be largely senseless."

The judge said he believed Spengler should "never be released from prison," and said he was convinced that the defendant is an "extremely dangerous man."

Meza, who had been shot eight times, was found shot to death in a white Dodge Charger on the shoulder of the White Avenue offramp from the eastbound San Bernardino (10) Freeway in Pomona.

Nieto suffered blunt force trauma to the head and was found by a passerby on a trail in the 3800 block of Canon Boulevard in Altadena.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Desert Hot Springs man serving life in prison accused of killing fellow inmate