EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso County Jail received a new non-compliance notice in February following the death of inmate Miguel Angel Montoya, the man who allegedly kidnapped his son and prompted an Amber Alert last year.
On Jan. 25, the day of Montoya’s death, out of 55 conducted observation rounds, one round was 1 hour and 37 minutes late, equaling three missed observation rounds, according to the non-compliance.
The non-compliance states that every facility shall have the appropriate number of jailers at the facility 24 hours each day.
“Facilities shall have an established procedure for documented, face-to-face observation of all inmates by jailers no less than once every 60 minutes. Observation shall be performed at least every 30 minutes in areas where inmates known to be assaultive, potentially suicidal, mentally ill, or who have demonstrated bizarre behavior are confined,” read part of the non-compliance.
“One jailer shall be provided on each floor of the facility where 10 or more inmates are housed, with no less than one jailer per 48 inmates or increment thereof on each floor for direct inmate supervision. This jailer shall provide documented visual inmate supervision not less than once every 60 minutes,” according to the violated code by the state.
Brandon Wood, the executive director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, said the County has 30 days to send a corrective action plan detailing exactly how the jail will rectify the issues. The commission will then review the plan and monitor that those actions are being taken.
A previous non-compliance notice was issued in January 2024 regarding the death of another inmate at the El Paso County Jail when Richard Wiles was sheriff.
As KTSM previously reported, when El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte took office at the beginning of the year, he addressed the shortage of staff throughout the County.
We have reached out to Ugarte’s Office for comment, but have not heard back as of reporting.
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