Sacramento felon convicted of stabbing another inmate who died after being shot by officers

A New Folsom prison inmate was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon by an inmate serving a life sentence, possession of a weapon in prison and possession of heroin in prison, according to prosecutors.

Bob Bejarano, who is serving a 40-years-to-life sentence for murder stemming from a 2003 shooting in Los Angeles County, was convicted Wednesday by a jury, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office said.

Bejarano, 35, was incarcerated at California State Prison, Sacramento, on Aug. 30, 2018, when he confronted and repeatedly stabbed inmate Eric Rodriguez, who was playing basketball by himself, with a homemade weapon in the main yard of the facility known as New Folsom, according to prosecutors and corrections officials.

A news release said Rodriguez and Bejarano, both identified in court filings as gang members, wrestled to the ground and Rodriguez took possession of the weapon and began stabbing Bejarano. Correctional officers at the high-security prison saw the fight and ordered them to stop.

Rodriguez, 27, continued to stab Bejarano and an officer fired one shot from a guard tower, killing Rodriguez.

Bejarano was taken to a hospital and a CT scan showed that he ingested two foreign items. He admitted to swallowing two bags of heroin, the release said.

Jurors also found true special allegations against Bejarano, including that “the crime involved great violence, great bodily harm, or other acts disclosing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness or callousness,” according to the District Attorney’s Office.

He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison at his hearing June 13.