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Articles Tagged With ‘Santa Barbara County Jail’




Santa Barbara County inmate charged with jailhouse murder

Written on 26 Sep, 2026 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies have rebooked a Main Jail inmate on a murder charge over the death of another inmate, whom authorities found unresponsive at the Northern Branch Jail earlier this month. A criminal investigation found... (Continue reading)

Inmate found dead at Northern Santa Barbara County Jail

Written on 16 Sep, 2026 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

By JOSH FRIEDMAN The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a 68-year-old inmate who was found unresponsive in the Northern Branch Jail on Tuesday. Shortly after noon, while conducting a routine check, a custody deputy found... (Continue reading)

California jails transfer hundreds of illegal aliens into federal custody

Written on 12 Aug, 2026 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 23 comments

By KAREN VELIE Hundreds of criminal illegal aliens have been transferred from jails in seven California counties, including San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, to federal custody since last year’s launch of Operation Guardian Angel. Because of Operation Guardian Angel,... (Continue reading)

Grand Jury finds conflicts of interest in investigation of jail deaths

Written on 16 Apr, 2024 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 4 comments

By KAREN VELIE The Santa Barbara Grand Jury found a perceived conflict of interest in the sheriff department’s investigations of mounting deaths at county jails and is recommending multiple changes. In an attempt to look into allegations of conflicts of... (Continue reading)

Deputies thwart fentanyl smuggling attempt at Santa Barbara County Jail

Written on 7 Sep, 2023 in Daily Briefs, Featured | One comment

  By JOSH FRIEDMAN Custody deputies thwarted a fentanyl smuggling attempt this week at Santa Barbara County’s Northern Branch Jail in Santa Maria. On Tuesday, deputies initiated an investigation into suspected contraband in an intake cell at the jail. During... (Continue reading)

Deputies stop Santa Barbara jail escape attempt

Written on 1 Aug, 2023 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s custody deputies thwarted an escape attempt at the county’s Main Jail on Monday night. Shortly before 9 p.m., deputies observed five unescorted inmates in an unauthorized area of the jail. The custody deputies... (Continue reading)

Inmate dies in cell at Santa Barbara County jail, second in five days

Written on 30 May, 2023 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

By KAREN VELIE An inmate died in a cell at a Santa Barbara County jail on Monday afternoon, the second inmate who has died in the past five days. Shortly after 2 p.m., a custody deputy and a WellPath medical... (Continue reading)

Feds indict Central Coast men for selling fentanyl that caused jailhouse death

Written on 10 May, 2023 in Daily Briefs, Featured | One comment

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Federal officials on Tuesday announced the indictments of two inmates at the Santa Barbara County Northern Branch Jail for allegedly causing the death of one inmate and serious injury to another through fentanyl. In the span of... (Continue reading)

Woman gets year in jail for accessory to murder, faces deportation

Written on 4 Aug, 2017 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 8 comments

The wife of the man accused of killing a 43-year-old Santa Maria resident outside a bar in Orcutt received a one-year jail sentence for accessory to murder. Mayra Perez, 29, pleaded no contest in June to being an accessory to... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria jail to close due to budget cuts

Written on 21 Jun, 2017 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 12 comments

As part of major budget cuts, Santa Barbara County is closing the Santa Maria jail.  [KCOY] The move will force law enforcement officers in Northern Santa Barbara County to transport suspects down to Santa Barbara every time they make an... (Continue reading)