Santa Maria, Calif.  – The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is reporting the death of a 79-year-old Santa Maria man who remained in Sheriff’s Office custody while receiving medical care outside of the Northern Branch Jail.

Ernest Lattimer, 79, of Santa Maria, was in custody in connection with a previously reported investigation. Lattimer was being held on $1 million bail for multiple felony charges, including four counts of engaging in sex acts with a minor, three counts of oral copulation with a victim under 10 years old, and 10 counts of lewd acts with a child under 14. He was also being held on special allegations related to violent sex offenses that, upon conviction, would prohibit probation, as well as an aggravated sentencing allegation involving specified sex offenses against a child under 14 that carries a potential sentence of 25 years to life.

Lattimer had been housed at the Northern Branch Jail before being transported to an area hospital for medical care on July 30, 2026. Lattimer had extensive medical issues and remained outside of the jail receiving medical care from that date forward. He was subsequently transferred from the hospital to Villa Maria Post Acute, a skilled nursing facility, where he most recently had been receiving care.

Although Lattimer was no longer physically housed at the Northern Branch Jail, he remained in the legal custody of the Sheriff’s Office and under guard while receiving medical care.

On Monday October 5, 2026, at approximately 8:17 am, Lattimer died while at Villa Maria Post Acute.

Because Lattimer remained in Sheriff’s Office custody at the time of his death, his death is being investigated and reported as an in-custody death. The Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau is conducting a death investigation to determine the official cause and manner of death. In accordance with Sheriff’s Office policy, a separate administrative review is also underway.

Additional information will be released as appropriate upon completion of the investigation.

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Posted by PIO Zick