6 Merced County Jail inmates to be charged with murder, deputies say

Six Merced County Jail inmates face murder charges in connection with the death last week of another inmate who was apparently beaten in his housing unit, the Merced County Sheriff’s Department confirmed.

Jesse Rodriguez, 23, Michael Turner, 32, Jose Santana, 21, Brenden Chanminalatha, 19, Francisco Gonzales, 20, and Anthony Salinas, 18, are expected to be charged with murder in connection with the Sept. 20 death of an inmate, Sgt. Delray Shelton said Tuesday.

Detective-Sgt. Chuck Hale confirmed all six are suspects in the death of 29-year-old Alejandro Vega.

Harold Nutt, chief deputy district attorney, confirmed prosecutors plan to file murder charges against all six inmates.

The victim was apparently beaten some time before 5 p.m. Sept. 19. There was some confusion over exactly when the victim was taken off life support, but deputies on Tuesday confirmed the victim died Sept. 20.

Investigators have not commented on a motive for the attack, but have said all six suspects and the victim belonged to Norteno street gangs in Merced County.

The inmate’s death brings the total number of homicides in 2015 in Merced County to 24.

This story will be updated.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 1:49 PM with the headline "6 Merced County Jail inmates to be charged with murder, deputies say."