Former California Correctional Officer Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Helping Cover Up Civil Rights Violation Regarding Assault on Inmate at CSP-Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ashley Aurich, 33, of Sacramento, was sentenced today to 21 months in prison and ordered to pay $7,500 in fines for submitting a false report to try and cover up a criminal civil rights violation for the on‑duty assault of an inmate, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Aurich was a correctional officer at California State Prison, Sacramento (CSP-Sacramento). On Sept. 15, 2016, while escorting an inmate, Aurich watched her partner, Arturo Pacheco, grab the inmate’s legs and pull them out from under him. The inmate, whose hands were handcuffed behind his back, fell forward onto the concrete floor, breaking his jaw and several teeth, and suffering other injuries. That inmate was transported to UC Davis Medical Center where he received treatment for his injuries. Approximately two days later, the inmate suffered a pulmonary embolism and died. While the inmate was receiving treatment, Aurich, Pacheco, and other correctional officers began falsifying reports to cover up the incident.

On Oct. 17, 2022, Arturo Pacheco was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison for criminal civil rights violations.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the cooperation of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Internal Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Anderson and Rosanne L. Rust prosecuted the case.