Robert Wayne Shingleton, of Aguanga, Died in Police Custody While Staying at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning
RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA (April 28, 2026) – A 48-year-old inmate identified as Robert Shingleton has tragically died in custody while staying at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.
Riverside County officials are saying that the incident took place on Sunday. Robert Shingleton was choking on food while inside one of the housing units.
Corrections officers attempted efforts to help him. Despite those efforts, Robert Shingleton was pronounced dead at the scene.
A full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Riverside County Inmate Deaths
Every jail across California must use certain precautions to protect all the inmates in their care. Those inmates must also receive reasonably adequate medical support. Inmates should also receive periodic wellness checks to ensure that they are alright. If jail officials are deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. There are many ways a jail may fail to properly protect an inmate in their care.
- Infrequent Wellness Checks: Correctional officers may only check on the inmates in their care very infrequently.
- Medication Errors: Medical staff at jails may make medication errors that put inmates at risk.
- Medical Screening: Jail staff may fail to give an inmate a proper medical screening.
- Emergency Response: Jail staff may delay getting an inmate prompt care as they are in the midst of a medical emergency.
Inmate deaths are often highly preventable. They tend to involve situations where correctional officers do not intervene in a timely manner in the event of an emergency. Liability for an inmate death will typically hinge on how quickly medical staff intervened. It also matters how medical staff responded. For example, if an inmate is choking, responding officers should use the Heimlich maneuver and CPR to initiate breathing. Failing to perform CPR and other life-saving care could create liability on the part of the jail.
Steps to Take After Riverside County Inmate Deaths
The Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Riverside has been the subject of a number of lawsuits. According to ABC 7, “Zumalt was cooperative during the booking process at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning. But after several hours in the sobering cell, Burton said the effects of the methamphetamine in his system began taking a toll on his body.” There are several measures that should be taken after any inmate death in Riverside County.
- History: The history of inmate deaths at the facility should be investigated.
- Medical Records: All medical records related to the incident should be sought.
- Jail Records: All of the jail records related to the inmate’s stay should be scrutinized.
- Independent Review: The family of any person who died in a Riverside County jail should seek an independent review by a team experienced in constitutional law.
Jail deaths are often highly preventable. They are often the result of systemic failures at any institution. This can include overcrowding and understaffing. Another major problem is that some jail staff may simply not know what to do in the event of an emergency. It is important that inmates and their family members understand that they do have legal rights. They are able to seek some measure of justice and accountability through a civil action.
Investigating Riverside County Inmate Deaths
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Robert Shingleton. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. The sheer number of deaths at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in recent years remains deeply concerning. Many questions remain unanswered.
Do you need more information about an inmate death at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning? Our team of civil rights advocates is here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping all people in California understand their rights and holding law enforcement accountable for their unconstitutional actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
