Inmate Accused of Sex Crimes Dies in Cell in Mendocino County Jail

A 75-year-old man suspected of child sex crimes died Sunday after he was found unconscious in a cell at the Mendocino County Jail. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of Steven Hyrum Helm of Fort Bragg, the agency said in an announcement over the weekend. Helm had been in custody since April 22 at the jail in Ukiah. Helm was alone in his cell and had no interactions with other inmates in the time leading up to his death.