County Pays $1.8 Million for Inmate Death

Riverside County agreed to pay $1.8 million to settle a federal lawsuit regarding the death of an inmate in an Indio jail. The payment resolves claims that sheriff's deputies failed to protect John Leo Hemmer, 48, after he was beaten by a cellmate. The Board of Supervisors approved the settlement on Sept. 1. The county stated it paid for economic reasons and did not admit wrongdoing.

Hemmer was jailed in February 2019 after a domestic violence incident. He awaited trial for nearly two and a half years on charges including attempted murder and torture. He was housed at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio. According to court filings, he lived in the cell with other inmates without major issues until Luke Hanchette arrived. Hanchette had prior convictions for battery and was known to staff for his unpredictable behavior.

The lawsuit claimed deputies ignored the tension between the two men. It alleged that staff failed to perform adequate cell checks and allowed Hanchette to bully Hemmer. Hanchette allegedly forced Hemmer to strip naked and took his mattress. The legal filing said deputies showed deliberate indifference to the situation.

On the night of July 20, 2021, Hanchette and Hemmer were out of their cells to get breakfast. Hanchette collected two meals and obtained a metal crutch from another inmate. He brought the crutch back to their cell despite having no medical need for it. Deputies did not check the cell for more than two hours. During that time, Hanchette allegedly killed Hemmer. At least two surveillance cameras were malfunctioning, the lawsuit said.

Around 6:40 a.m. on July 21, 2021, Hanchette left the cell for a court appearance. He carried the crutch, which had soap on it to remove blood and tissue. A deputy found Hemmer naked and covered in blood inside the flooded cell. He had been dead for at least an hour. The family argued that an earlier inspection could have saved his life.

Hanchette was charged with murder and ordered to stand trial in March 2022, but the case never reached a jury. On Dec. 13, 2023, Hanchette was found dead in his cell at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside. The Sheriff's Department reported no signs of foul play. A spokesperson cited a court order on Friday and did not disclose his cause of death.

Hanchette’s death was the 11th reported in Riverside County jails that year. This followed 19 inmate deaths in 2022, the highest annual total reported in decades. In June 2026, a county Civil Grand Jury report found that 29 inmates died in custody between March 2023 and late April 2026. The report called for independent civilian oversight of the Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Chad Bianco disputed the findings, calling the report inaccurate.

An ad hoc committee established by the Board of Supervisors on July 14 is evaluating oversight options. The committee has 180 days to report its findings. It is expected to present its recommendations to the Board of Supervisors by the end of January.