Merced, CA (December 15, 2025) — A Merced family has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the State of California and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), alleging prison staff failed to prevent a fatal inmate attack and improperly allowed graphic video of the incident to circulate online. The lawsuit stems from the death of 36-year-old Joseph Mendoza, who was incarcerated at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad when he was killed during an inmate assault in April 2025. The family contends the actions and inactions of prison officials before, during, and after the incident contributed to both Mendoza’s death and the emotional trauma they continue to experience.
On April 8, 2025, Joseph Mendoza, 36, was attacked inside Facility C at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad after two inmates, identified by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation as Edgar Frayre and Nicolas Young, assaulted him with improvised weapons in a dayroom area. According to CDCR, staff observed the attack at approximately 5:39 p.m., issued multiple verbal commands that were ignored, and then used less-than-lethal force to stop the assault. Frayre and Young were restrained, and medical aid was provided to Mendoza, but he was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m. CDCR classified the incident as a homicide. While CDCR has not released a specific number of wounds, media reports tied to the family’s lawsuit state surveillance video shows Mendoza was stabbed more than 180 times during the attack, a figure attributed to those reports and not independently confirmed by correctional or medical officials. The incident remains under investigation by CDCR’s Investigative Services Unit and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.
The lawsuit alleges CDCR staff failed to adequately intervene or protect Mendoza during the attack and did not properly safeguard sensitive surveillance material afterward. Attorneys for the family characterize the handling of the video as reckless and without legitimate correctional purpose. The complaint raises legal questions regarding whether the release of the footage violated California laws governing the dissemination of graphic images by government employees, including statutes commonly referred to as the “Kobe Bryant Act,” though how those laws apply to correctional settings has not yet been determined by the court.
CDCR has issued a different account of the incident, stating that custody staff responded to the fight, issued verbal commands, and deployed less-than-lethal measures to stop the assault. The department has said medical aid was rendered after the incident, but Mendoza later died from his injuries. CDCR has also acknowledged that an internal review is underway and that any staff found to have violated department policies regarding recording devices or the sharing of sensitive material could face disciplinary action.
The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office and CDCR’s Investigative Services Unit are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the homicide. Separate from the lawsuit, CDCR previously confirmed that two inmates were identified as suspects in the killing and that the incident remains under investigation.
The family’s lawsuit seeks damages and accountability from the state and correctional officials, within California’s prison system. The case remains pending in federal court, and no final determinations have been made regarding liability or wrongdoing at this stage.
