Jail guards convicted in death of Michael Tyree could be released

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Three former Santa Clara County jail guards, convicted in the 2015 beating death of inmate Michael Tyree, agreed to a plea deal on Tuesday that might release them within the next 12 months.

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said the plea deal imposed a similar penalty that the three former guards received before their second-degree murder conviction was reversed by a recent retrospective state law.

"Today was a victory for the vulnerable and the voiceless," said Rosen in front of the Hall of Justice. "And we’ve brought finality, some measure of justice to Michael Tyree’s family as well as our entire community."

SEE ALSO: Santa Clara County agrees to $3.6M settlement in beating death of inmate Michael Tyree

Former guards Jereh Lubrin, Matt Farris, and Rafael Rodriguez each admitted to killing Tyree, who suffered from mental health issues. Their second-degree murder conviction has been replaced with one count of voluntary manslaughter.

"I think this is a win for the district attorney’s office. They guarantee that these guards will go to prison for voluntary manslaughter for the longest amount of time," said legal analyst Steven Clark. "I think it was a way for the district attorney’s office to hedge their bet."

Tyree, held at the county jail for misdemeanor offenses, was waiting for a space at a treatment facility when he was killed in August 2015.

"All of us thought, ‘Well it’s safe to have him in jail until there’s a treatment bed open.’ But in fact, it wasn’t safe to have him in jail, cause that’s where he was killed," said Rosen.

In the 2017 trial, evidence showed the three beat Tyree fatally as he begged for his life. Yet, a new state law negated the murder convictions based on the "natural and probable causes doctrine."

"The legislature did apply it retroactively to all prior cases. So these three guards were not the only beneficiaries of this change in the law. Many defendants got a new trial or new sentencing based on the change in the law," said Clark.

In court, the guards admitted to killing Tyree with a "conscious disregard for human life." They all waived their right to a jury trial and were sentenced to 11 years.
 
They already served seven years and were released in July to finish the remainder of their time under home confinement. They could be freed within the next year if they don’t violate the law.

Rosen conferred with Tyree's family before the plea deal and said reforms since the case improved inmate treatment.

"Perhaps a little ray of light emerged from Michael Tyree’s night of darkness," he said.

The former guards will return to court on Oct. 22 for sentencing. Judge Benjamin Williams will apply Milestone Credits to determine their remaining time, followed by three years of probation.