Mule Creek State Prison Inmate Pleads Guilty to 2018 Beating Death of Fellow Inmate
AMADOR, CA-“The District Attorney’s Office announces that on October 2, 2026, Matthew Wanser, 55, an inmate at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, pled to the 2018 beating death of another inmate, Robert Hunter. The defendant was sentenced to 20 years to life, consecutive to his prior life terms.
In addition to his plea of guilty as to second-degree murder (Penal Code section 187), he admitted that he had served a prior prison term for a violent felony (Penal Code section 667(a)). At the time of this crime, the defendant was already serving prison terms for two 1997 murders in San Diego County.
Under current California law, the defendant is not eligible to ever be released. The District Attorney’s Office continues to urge lawmakers to support legislation protecting the public from violent inmates who pose a danger if released on parole.
This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Eric Rouen. We thank the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Investigative Services Unit at Mule Creek State Prison for their work on this case.”
