Nevada to Pay $4.6M in Prison Death Settlement Over Inmate Beating Allegations

Nevada to Pay $4.6M in Prison Death Settlement Over Inmate Beating Allegations

Introduction

Last Updated: October 3, 2025

Nevada Pays $4.6M to Settle High Desert State Prison Death Lawsuit

The state of Nevada has agreed to pay $4.6 million to settle a lawsuit that accused prison guards of brutally beating an inmate and leaving him to die at High Desert State Prison near Las Vegas in 2023, according to the family’s attorney.

Disputed Cause of Death

While the medical examiner ruled the 44-year-old man’s death as “natural” due to heart problems, the autopsy report revealed multiple injuries, including head trauma and bruising on his torso, neck, and limbs. These findings raised serious questions about the circumstances surrounding his death.

Allegations of Repeated Beatings

According to the lawsuit, the inmate was beaten twice shortly after being transferred from another facility. The first altercation allegedly stemmed from a dispute over personal belongings, the family’s attorney said. When he died, the man’s face was swollen and covered in blood, the suit and autopsy both stated.

The DOJ's Civil Rights Division investigates patterns of abuse and civil rights violations in correctional facilities across the U.S.

Nevada Settles, Clark County Still Facing Litigation

The attorney said the settlement was reached before trial, noting that the man’s family was satisfied the litigation had brought crucial details to light. However, Clark County remains a defendant in the ongoing case. “My ego doesn’t feel like it’s a big enough number,” the attorney remarked about the settlement amount.

Prison’s Account of the Incident

Prison officials claimed the inmate had ignored commands and acted aggressively, prompting officers to use batons and physical restraint. The man, who had served more than 20 years of a life sentence with parole eligibility for a 1997 homicide, died in custody soon after the confrontation.

According to the Nevada Department of Corrections, High Desert State Prison is the largest facility in the state’s correctional system.

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