Grandma is freed from prison

New evidence shows baby’s death may have been accidental.

A woman who spent 11 years behind bars in connection with the sudden death of her 9-month-old grandson has been freed from prison after new evidence revealed that the death may have been accidental.

Maria Mendez — whose release from custody was made public by her attorneys Wednesday — always maintained her innocence, vowing she had not hurt her grandson, Emmanuel, before he collapsed and stopped breathing in December 2006.

“Finally, I have my liberty,” said Mendez, 64, who got out of prison last week after a judge vacated her old conviction as part of a larger plea deal. Under the agreement with Los Angeles County prosecutors, Mendez pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter but was released because she had already served the maximum 11-year sentence.

Prosecutors said they stand by medical evidence presented at trial that the death resulted from

Authorities say a convicted child molester was beaten to death by another inmate just days after arriving at a California prison north of Bakersfield.

Wasco State Prison officials said Wednesday that Andres Ayon, 19, began hitting Agustin Duran, 66, in the face and chest with his fists Saturday night.

Guards broke up the assault with a pepper spray grenade.

Duran was airlifted to a hospital, where he died Sunday. He arrived at the prison July 2 to serve a life sentence after he was convicted in Los Angeles County of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14.

Ayon, who was treated for minor injuries, arrived at the prison last month to serve a six-year sentence for robbery and using a deadly weapon in Kern County.