Executive Summary
- Three Alameda County deputies were indicted by a grand jury for dependent elder abuse.
- The charges relate to the 2021 in-custody death of Maurice Monk at Santa Rita Jail.
- Defense attorneys criticized the use of a grand jury, which bypasses a preliminary hearing.
- Charges against eight other defendants were previously dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Three Alameda County sheriff’s deputies were arraigned Tuesday morning following a grand jury indictment charging them in connection with the in-custody death of Maurice Monk at Santa Rita Jail nearly four years ago. The indictment formally charges deputies Robinderpal Singh Hayer, Thomas Mower, and Donall Rowe with dependent elder abuse, according to court filings.
In addition to the abuse charge, Hayer was indicted for the falsification of an official document. These charges mirror those originally filed by former District Attorney Pamela Price last year, though the case is now being prosecuted under the administration of District Attorney Ursula Jones Dixon.
Alison Berry Wilkinson, the attorney representing deputy Thomas Mower, stated she was “perplexed” by the District Attorney’s decision to seek a grand jury indictment for charges the deputies had already faced. Wilkinson criticized the procedural shift, noting that it bypasses an open preliminary hearing, a move she described as “troubling to the defense team.”
Maurice Monk died in custody on November 15, 2021. Body camera footage obtained by KTVU in 2023 showed that deputies and nurses had opened the door to Monk’s cell multiple times over several days leading up to his death. However, the footage revealed that staff never physically entered the room or confirmed his well-being, despite his apparent catatonic state. In August, prosecutors dismissed charges against eight other defendants, including six deputies and two healthcare providers, citing insufficient evidence.
All three indicted deputies remain out of custody. While no pleas were entered on Tuesday, they are expected to plead not guilty at their next court appearance scheduled for January 21.
Procedural Legal Analysis
The utilization of a grand jury indictment in this case represents a significant procedural pivot, effectively bypassing the preliminary hearing stage where defense attorneys would typically have the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses and challenge the sufficiency of evidence before a judge. This strategy allows the prosecution to secure charges in a closed proceeding, potentially streamlining the path to trial in high-profile cases involving law enforcement. The core legal battle will likely hinge on the application of dependent elder abuse statutes to custodial negligence within a jail setting. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
