California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California
End of Watch: Monday, April 26, 1976
Age: 38
Tour of Duty: 4 years, 8 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: April 26, 1976
Weapon Used: Blunt object
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Correctional Officer Richard Ochoa was bludgeoned to death while working at San Quentin State Prison.
Officer Ochoa was found unconscious with head injuries by another guard who sounded a whistle. He was rushed to the prison hospital but died a short time later. Three inmates were suspected of attacking him with a weightlifting bar.
On June 10, 1976, an inmate, 36, was charged with his murder. On January 31, 1977, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. His sentence would begin at the conclusion of a 6 to 20-year term for attempted robbery and a year-to-life term for assaulting a guard. The inmate became violent after he was forced to wear a jacket that had the word "SNITCH" on the back of it. This was not known until after the inmate's trial.
Officer Ochoa had served at San Quentin State Prison for four years. He was survived by his wife and three children.