Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office investigates inmate death at nursing facility

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – A Northern County Branch Jail inmate died after receiving medical care at a nursing facility, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.

Ernest Lattimer, 79, was being held in custody on $1 million bail after mulitple felony sex crimes involving a minor, according to the SBCSO.

Lattimer's charges included violent sex offenses that would have prohibited probation and an aggravated sentencing allegation.

The aggravated sentencing allegation involved specific sex offenses against a child under 14 and carried a potential sentence of 25 years to life, according to the SBCSO.

Lattimer was held at the Northern Branch Jail before admission to an area hospital for various health issues on July 30.

Lattimer remained in legal custody of the SBCSO when he was transferred from the hospital to the Villa Maria Post Acute nursing facility.

Lattimer died around 8:17 a.m. Monday at the Villa Maria facility and his passing is being investigated as an in-custody death due to the SBCSO's legal custody.

The Sheriff's Coroner's Bureau is investigating Lattimer's official cause of death and a separate administrative review is underway.