Man killed in holding cell at the Butte County Jail
OROVILLE >> A 43-year-old man was killed in the early hours Sunday morning while in a Butte County Jail holding cell and a 23-year-old man is being held on a homicide charge for his death after a brief altercation between the two men.
An inmate notified correctional deputies of a possible fight occurring inside a sobering cell between Sherman Silva, 43, and Michael Borgman, 23, early Sunday. Both men were arrested in separate incidents and booked on Saturday evening into a holding cell within the Butte County Jail booking area. The Sheriff’s Office said the fight occurred just two minutes after jail staff conducted a check of the cell.
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea was the first to confirm the inmate’s death in the holding cell before the Sheriff’s Office issued a press release Monday afternoon with further details.
Correctional deputies who responded saw an altercation between the two men, who were then quickly separated, the Sheriff’s Office said
in the release. Silva, however, was found unresponsive and began receiving emergency medical treatment from jail medical staff and paramedics who were called to the jail. Despite life-saving efforts, responders were unable to revive Silva.
Investigators with the Butte County District Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s Office detectives began investigating and located evidence that Borgman and Silva were involved in a “brief” altercation causing Silva’s death.
Based on the initial evidence investigators gathered, Borgman was placed under arrest on suspicion of homicide. Borgman was first arrested by the California Highway Patrol on the evening of March 6 on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Silva was also arrested on the evening of March 6 for a felony arrest warrant. The Chico Police Department arrested and booked Silva into the jail. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Borgman was under the influence of alcohol and Silva was under the influence of drugs, which led to them being placed in a sobering cell within the booking area of the jail.
During the hours they were housed in the same
cel l , the S he r i f f ’ s Office said jail medical staff and correctional staff conducted “frequent checks” on the two men. Another inmate called on correctional deputies in response to the fight after a final check of the cell just minutes before.
The Butte County District Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s Office detectives continue to investigate the altercation leading to Silva’s death.
Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey noted last week that inmate attacks at the Butte County Jail have increased recently. Ramsey commented on the trend after another inmate, Cornelius McCauley, was found guilty in an August 2020 attack at the jail that resulted in another inmate suffering a fractured skull and repeated loss of consciousness.
Ramsey cited recent reforms under Assembly Bill 109 and restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which have contributed to jail overcrowding by limiting the transport of inmates who would otherwise serve time in state prison.
Contact reporter Will Denner at 530-896-7774.