A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Kern County, California, following the death of inmate Stephen Ingle in March 2023. The lawsuit alleges that Ingle was assaulted by other inmates, inadequately supervised by jail staff, and then placed back in the same cell with his attackers. The suit claims that Kern County failed to properly protect inmates after an increase in the number of inmates housed in county facilities due to California's prison realignment law (AB 109). According to the lawsuit, Ingle was found unconscious with a head injury on March 4th, 2023. He received medical attention but was then returned to the same cell where he was allegedly assaulted. Later that day, he was found hanging in the cell's shower and suffered severe brain damage. He died on March 29th. The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensation and punitive damages for Ingle's death.