UPDATE: Contra Costa Co. Inmate Who Died Was Facing Life In Prison

A man who died after attempting to commit suicide in a Martinez jail cell earlier this week was facing life in prison on multiple child molestation charges, a prosecutor said today.

Discovery Bay resident John Hansen, 54, was sentenced on May 21 after being convicted of more than a dozen child molestation charges, Deputy District Attorney Chris Walpole said.

Walpole was arrested in March 2014 after one of his victims disclosed to school personnel that he had molested her, Walpole said. Hansen’s three female victims were between the ages of 10 and 14 when he molested them, according to Walpole.

Although Hansen pleaded not guilty and testified during trial that he did not commit the crimes, Walpole said that during sentencing he issued a general apology to the family of the victims. “It’s certainly a tragic case,” Walpole said.

Hansen’s attorney, public defender Mishya Singh, did not return requests for comment. Hansen was awaiting transport to state prison when staff at the Martinez Detention Facility found him unresponsive on Tuesday, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jimmy Lee said.

Lee said the staff immediately rendered first aid and he was transported to the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center. Hansen succumbed to his wounds late Thursday afternoon, Lee said.

--Bay City News