Crime · Ione, CA
Amador County Inmate Sentenced for 2018 Prison Beating Death
On October 2, 2026, Matthew Wanser, 55, an inmate at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, pled guilty to second-degree murder in the 2018 beating death of fellow inmate Robert Hunter. He was sentenced to 20 years to life, consecutive to prior life terms he was already serving for two 1997 murders in San Diego County. The Amador County District Attorney's Office stated that under current California law Wanser is not eligible for release. Deputy District Attorney Eric Rouen prosecuted the case with assistance from the CDCR Investigative Services Unit at Mule Creek State Prison.