First Charged with Murder, Now Charged with Assault While in Custody
Photo: Noe Herrera
Santa Barbara County – First charged with murder, 32-year-old Lompoc resident Noe Herrera has spent the last three years in Santa Barbara County Jail. He has been waiting for adjudication of “numerous felony counts,” says SBCSD Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover.
Among his charges, Herrera stands accused of the January 2015 murder of Lompoc resident Salvador Hernandez. It all began when Lompoc cops showed up at Herrera’s house because a neighbor had reported a loud argument between him and his mother “which had turned physical.” He was taken into custody and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail where he was charged with attempted murder.
The following morning, Herrera then assaulted his jail cellmate, inflicting “serious bodily injury,” earning him an additional assault charge at that time.
At court hearings earlier this year, Herrera pleaded not guilty to all charges by reason of insanity. While still in custody, on August 20, 2018, Herrera attacked a custody deputy inside the jail. On September 5th, he earned an additional charge of assault on a police officer.
Herrera remains in custody on all charges, which include:
• Assault by means of force to produce great bodily injury
• Battery causing serious bodily injury
• Assault and battery on a peace officer
• Attempted murder
• Murder
• Sexual penetration by foreign object
• Making criminal threats
Even more, of those charges, the victim in three of them is Herrera’s mother. He remains in custody on a no-bail hold.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
